asked the Minister for the Environment if he is satisfied that the training and equipment available to the emergency services are adequate to deal with any emergency that might arise from the transport of the chemical acrylonitrile from Dublin Port to the Asahi Plant in Ballina, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Transport of Acrylonitrile.
403.
It is primarily a matter for each local authority concerned to ensure that their services are adequately equipped and trained to perform their roles under the plan drawn up by an Inter-Departmental Committee for dealing with incidents arising from the transport by rail of acrylonitrile from Dublin Port to Asahi, County Mayo. My Department has approved of borrowing proposals for purchase of equipment required for such emergencies by a number of local authorities on this rail route. Fire service personnel have attended relevant training courses organised by my Department. My Department has also issued guidance to local authorities, including guidance on the fire service response to such incidents, pollution control aspects, the characteristics of the chemicals being transported and the general precautions to be taken in dealing with an incident.
The Deputy will appreciate that emergency services other than local authority emergency services are also involved in the operation of this plan.