Deputy Gallagher has been given permission to put a Private Notice Question and I understand that Deputy Coughlan's name is associated with the question also.
Private Notice Question. - County Donegal Water Pollution.
On behalf of Deputy Coughlan also I am asking the Minister for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the water pollution problem affecting 7,000 people, hospitals, schools and bakeries in the Ballyshannon-Rossnowlagh areas in County Donegal; if he will provide finance for an improved water scheme in this area and if he will outline the steps being taken to prevent a recurrence of any further such incident in the county.
I am concerned about the problem which caused pollution of the Ballyshannon water supply, requiring it to be turned off and leaving the town dependent on an emergency supply. I have asked the local authority for a full report on this matter. In the meantime my officials have been in touch with the local authority and I understand it is estimated that water supplies will be restored by tomorrow and following some tests should be cleared for consumption by Thursday.
I understand from the county council that when the problem was discovered local authority workers, including the fire brigade, took action to remedy the situation. When it became clear that the immediate measures taken were not effective in restoring a pure water supply it was decided to shut off the system and to notify the public of the situation. I understand this was done by public address system and through RTE radio and television. In seeking a report from the county council I have asked particularly for a report on the timelag between the discovery of the pollution and the giving of a warning to the public.
A preliminary report for a water augmentation scheme for Ballyshannon was approved by my Department in 1980 and Donegal County Council were asked to prepare contract documents for this scheme. The question of financing the scheme must await submission of these documents by the county council.
While the Deputies will appreciate that I cannot give any guarantee regarding a recurrence of such an incident, my concern is that Donegal County Council and indeed all local authorities will take the necessary steps to guard against such incidents. As far as reasonably possible and if incidents did occur in future, procedures to minimise the ill effects and warn the people affected would be put into effect promptly. While I cannot prejudge this case, the Deputy will realise that local authorities have adequate powers under the Local Government (Water Pollution Act), 1977, to take action against persons causing pollution of water supplies.
Can the Minister inform the House when the pollution of the public water supply scheme at Ballyshannon became known and when the public warning was issued?
The caretaker of the water scheme discovered the pollution at 10 a.m. He alerted his supervisor and some remedial work was attempted immediately but that did not resolve the problem. It was decided by the local engineer that the pumps be switched off at 2 p.m. Efforts were made by the fire brigade, by way of high pressure hosing, to clear the slurry. After consultation between the council's engineers and the county medical officer it was agreed that the pollution was such that a public announcement should be made in regard to it. A broadcast system was ordered from Bundoran and a public announcement of the problem was made at 5.30 p.m. There was release on the matter also on RTE radio and television. Water tankers were used to bring water supplies to Ballyshannon, the first tanker having been in use at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday. From 9 a.m. on Monday six tankers were in operation. Army and civil defence personnel assisted in that operation.
Can the Minister give an absolute guarantee that water will not be used for human consumption until such time as a complete anlaysis has been carried out?
As I said in my reply, measures are being taken to restore a supply. It is hoped that the water will be fit for human consumption on Thursday. The condition of the water will be monitored at that stage and until it is fit for human consumption there would be no restoration of supply.
So that we may be certain that water will not be consumed by anyone before an analysis has been carried out, is the Minister prepared to guarantee that a sample will be taken from every house in the Ballyshannon-Rossnowlagh area? Such testing is necessary since, I understand, the polluted water found its way into the pipes in every home.
Has the Deputy a question?
I am asking the Minister if he will ensure that a sample is taken from every house and analysed. It is a much easier matter to ascertain that the water leaving the reservoir is fit for human consumption but that is not the case in respect of individual houses because the tanks and pipes contain polluted water. That is why I am asking for an assurance that an analysis will be taken in the case of every home in the area.
I cannot give an assurance that the water in the taps in every household in the area of Ballyshannon will be tested. The matter is one for the county medical officer and the local authority in that area. It is for them to make every effort to ensure that the water supply to every household as well as to everywhere else is clean and pollution free.
The next supplementary must be the final one on this question.
Surely the Minister is concerned to ensure that every household connected to the public water supply scheme at Ballyshannon is warned individually of the dangers of drinking the water. The Minister must accept that there may be elderly people who do not listen to the radio or who may not read the newspapers and who, consequently, may not be aware that the water in their houses presents such a danger. Surely there is an obligation on local authorities, lead by the Minister——
The Deputy must put a question.
Is there not an obligation on the Minister to arrange that someone calls on each household in the area in question so as to ensure that all the people concerned are made aware of the danger presented by this polluted water?
I am confident that the discussions taking place between my Department and the authorities in Donegal on this matter, and also in the matter of ensuring that sufficient notice is given to every household, will be adequate. Apart from that I cannot give any further assurance. I accept that the authorities in Donegal are thorough enough to make the situation known to every individual in their functional area. I accept the assurances that my Department have got in this regard.
Can the Minister give an assurance——
We are having repetition. I am calling the Order of Business.
The people of Ballyshannon are not interested at this moment in the Order of Business. We are discussing a very important matter.
The Chair agrees that the matter is important. That is why the question was allowed.
Is the Minister aware that the people of Ballyshannon are extremely angry about this whole matter and also that a public meeting is scheduled to take place this evening which Deputy Coughlan has waited over to attend.
Will the Deputy not be there also?
The Minister should stick to matters relating to his own constituency. The question we are discussing is not one for frivolous comment.
It is not a matter to bring politics into. I must communicate with my colleague before 8 p.m. today. He will be waiting for details of the Minister's reply so that he can communicate the information to the meeting. I am seeking an assurance that every tap in every household in the Ballyshannon-Rossnowlagh area will be checked by an officer from the North-Eastern Health Board.
This is the third time for the Deputy to ask for that assurance.
The Minister should give that assurance to the House.
The Minister is giving answers outside this House to colleagues. Perhaps he would give answers in the House. It is typical of the way the Government give answers.
I will not allow an argument on this point.
It is the Minister who is being argumentative. Perhaps the Minister is sore at me for raising the matter.
I had already given the answers on Sunday night when two other Deputies from the constituency were in contact with me. I gave them every assurance that my Department would help in every way, as the local urban council would wish us to help.