asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the continuing anxiety of residents in the Ovens district, County Cork, as to the potential health hazards created by the Raybestos Manhattan factory; and if he will take action to monitor and counteract this problem.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ovens (County Cork) Factory.
28.
I have received representations from residents of the Ovens area concerning the operations of the Raybestos Manhattan plant. I am advised that planning permission subject to 12 conditions was granted for the development in January, 1976 by Cork County Council. Conditions attached to the permission were designed to ensure that there would be no danger to the health of workers in the factory or to people living in the area. No appeals were lodged against the permission.
One of the conditions required a monitoring system to be devised to measure asbestos dust emissions both within the factory and in the vicinity. I am informed that this has been done and that the system has been approved by the county council and by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards. I also understand that the plant will be monitored by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards on behalf of the planning authority. Moreover, the planning permission required that the plant should be designed, constructed, operated and maintained in accordance with the Factories (Asbestos Processes) Regulations, 1972 and in this connection I understand that the plant was inspected on 7th December by the factory inspectorate of the Department of Labour and that they are satisfied that the regulations are being complied with in full.
From what I have said, the Deputy will appreciate that adequate provision has been made for monitoring asbestos dust emissions from the plant. The terms of the permission granted allow the use of chrysotile asbestos only and prohibit any use of crocodolite asbestos. Furthermore, very severe standards have been imposed to ensure the efficiency of dust filters and general dust control by vacuum cleaners and to minimise occupational exposure to dust within the factory and any dust emission from it. The planning authority has acted on expert technical advice and it is now a matter for them to see that the standards are observed. The necessary enforcement powers are available under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 and 1976.
The Department certainly seems to have done its best to make sure there is as little danger to local inhabitants as is possible. Is it not a fact that this asbestos has been recognised only recently as an extraordinarily dangerous substance whose real danger we are not fully aware of at present from the point of view of carcinogenesis; that there is legitimate ground for fears by local householders that we are dealing with something we simply do not know about? Would the Minister not agree that even though the Department has done all that it appears to be possible to do, in the light of our present knowledge, it may not be adequate and, in those circumstances, something should be done to hold up the whole development until they are quite satisfied they are dealing with something about which they know as much as possible?
I appreciate what the Deputy has said because we are very concerned about this matter at Government level. Discussions have taken place with local residents with a view to removing the dump dealing with the refuse from the plant to a remote area in County Cork which is in the middle of a forestry development.
As this is the last sitting day before the Christmas Recess, the remaining questions will be answered by written reply unless——
Only one short question remains to be answered.
The Minister is going into the time of the Deputy who is replying to the debate. The Minister may answer the question with the permission of the Deputy concerned.