asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will grant a licence under section 171 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959, to Mayo County Council so that they can proceed with the sewerage scheme at the Quay, Ballina.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballina Sewerage Scheme.
80.
I am prepared to issue such a licence to the Mayo County Council provided that I can be satisfied that the location of the outfall pipe from the scheme would not be such as would endanger fish life in any way or injure fish in their value as human food.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that planning permission for 200 new houses has been given in Ballina in the last four or five years and that all the sewage from these houses goes into the River Moy? Is the Parliamentary Secretary prepared to give a licence to the people of the Quay who have been looking for sewerage facilities for 20 years? Mayo County Council have got sanction. They are ready to go ahead, but future progress depends on the results of the application to the Parliamentary Secretary for a licence.
I should like to point out to the Deputy that my responsibility is to ensure that fish life is not endangered by pollution.
Are you going to give them a licence or are you not?
They will get one if they comply with the conditions which we have laid down. This is a matter for the Mayo County Council.