asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the precise assurance given by the Taoiseach to the personnel involved in the campaign to protect Lough Sheelin, County Cavan, from the effects of water pollution; the manner in which he proposes to implement those assurances; the timetable involved in the implementation and the changes in legislation, if any, required, to give effect to the assurances.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lough Sheelin Pollution.
25.
I understand that letters on the Taoiseach's behalf issued in reply to representations from a number of bodies and individuals on the subject in question. The terms of these letters showed some variation but the general tenor was that the Taoiseach and I were determined that whatever difficulties were in the way should be overcome and the lake restored to its pre-eminent position as a trout fishery.
The problem in Lough Sheelin 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 Agricultural Institute and the Inland Fisheries Trust to consider methods of dealing with the problem. I expect to receive that committee's report very shortly and I can assure the House that there will be no delay in implementing whatever course of action is considered the most appropriate for dealing with the problem. It is not possible to say at this stage whether any changes in legislation will be required.
I am aware of the inter-departmental committee and that it has not completed its deliberations, but would the Minister not agree that a solution must be found by this autumn in order to avoid the next season of pig slurry? Would he not agree that the general consensus is that some kind of storage facility is required at one end and grants or subsidies for transporting slurry out of the lough basin into another catchment area where it can be used? Having regard to that and to the two assurances given, could he indicate what kind of financial resources, if any, he has to give substance to the assurances by himself and the Taoiseach?
I do not think it is relevant to ask in relation to each question what moneys are available.
I would agree that the spreading of slurry can only be carried out in the period from April to September and that storage facilities need to be made available not only in the Sheelin catchment area but possibly also in the area outside the catchment to which the slurry is brought. We have thought about this and we have had discussions with the parties involved. While the mechanics of the matter have not yet arisen—the Deputy mentioned the cost—all I can do is assure the Deputy that whatever moneys are necessary to put this project into operation this year will be made available.
That is all I want to hear.
I thank the Minister for that reply. Has he not considered banning the spreading of slurry within half-a-mile of this lake——
We must not go into the details of how it might be done. We have a good deal of other work to do.
Has the Minister considered this?
Individual farmers have the right to do their farming in their own way. While I appreciate that some of the problems do not come from individual farmers but from pig industries, I think you cannot take away the right of a farmer, within reason, to use slurry as a top-dressing on his own land with the normal safeguards against polution. I think it would be wrong of us to interfere to that extent.
Surely the Minister realises, particularly in the immediate area around this lake, that other types of fertilisers should be used. This is affecting a very valuable lake and something drastic will have to be done about it.
One last supplementary. The Minister visited the area. Am I right in assuming that he saw evidence of not just the enrichment of the water pollution but also of dumping of carcases and so forth? Has he any proposals or will his committee be looking at how this will be dealt with in relation to the slurry?
We have taken that up already with the health authorities in the area and the Department of the Environment will deal with it also.
Has there been any offence lately?
We are not aware that any new offence has been committed since.
26.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if it is intended to publish the report of the technical committee set up by him comprising representatives of his Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural Institute and the Inland Fisheries Trust following his reply of the 27 March 1980 concerning the major increase in pollution in Lough Sheelin, County Cavan, and when he expects to receive this report.
I expect to receive the committee's report very shortly. I see no necessity to publish this report but the Deputy can feel assured that there will be no delay in implementing the course of action considered most appropriate for dealing with the problem.