asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will make a statement on the large increase in pollution in Lough Sheelin, County Cavan, and if he will outline the specific and urgent action he proposes to take to deal with this situation.
Written Answers. - Lough Sheelin Pollution.
135.
Whilst the protection of the water quality of our rivers and lakes is the responsibility of the Ministry for the Environment, in view of the importance of Lough Sheelin as a brown trout fishery, my Department are taking an active role towards resolving the present condition of the lough. As the Deputy is aware, the problem arises from an over-enrichment of the lough due to the entry of an excessive quantity of nutrients. As a first step, I have set up a technical committee comprising representatives of my Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Agriculture Institute and the Inland Fisheries Trust to consider methods of dealing with the problem, and at present I am awaiting their report.