asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will make a statement on the fish kills in 1983 and 1984 due to pollution; and if he will estimate the financial losses and otherwise from such fish destruction since this Government took up office.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fish Destruction.
10.
The number of fish kills reported by the regional fisheries boards in 1983 was 109 and in 1984 up to the end of September was 107.
As the exact number or species of fish lost in each kill is not available it is not possible to quantify the financial or other losses involved.
Is the Minister aware that enormous damage has been done through pollution in the last year or so? Partly to blame is the fact that the boards are in a very bad financial situation and cannot afford the personnel or the facilities to enable them to fight the threat of pollution. Would the Minister make some special effort to rectify the situation for 1985 before the total inland fisheries machine collapses?
I am not prepared to accept that things are in as bad a state as has been described by the Deputy. Neither do I accept that as a result of the curtailment of funds inspections are not being carried out in relation to pollution. That is incorrect.
I did not say that.
We have reports from each board in relation to tests carried out on each river. There is no curtailment in relation to the number of inspections being carried out.
There is. I would like to point out that there is curtailment of activities in each board area.
I do not want to be interrupting about this, but Question Time is not an opportunity for Deputies to give information to the Minister. That is not the way it should be done.
The Minister is totally unaware of certain very important matters which need to be brought to his attention——
These matters could be brought up on a debate on an Estimate or something like that.
——when the opportunity arises. I will point out again to him that the activities of the pollution control people employed by the boards in each area have been under very strict control for some time now with the result that pollution is rampant and is affecting our inland fisheries enormously. Unless something worthwhile is done in 1985 our inland fishery system will collapse. That is a very serious situation and I do not say so lightly here.
I would point out that the pollution side of the boards' work is carried out in conjunction with the county councils. I see reports from all boards on this work with regard to all rivers. I would like to contradict the Deputy. It is not a question of curtailment of inspections regarding pollution.
Could I get from the Minister of State the most recent evidence at his disposal from the regional boards of the pollution position in each board area?
I have not that information on the file. I can give it to the Deputy.
This is a statistical question about the number of fish kills. That is what it is about.
Could the Minister give some information about the fish kills and what action is being taken about them?
The same action as is taken each year. The people responsible are brought to court.
How many prosecutions were there last year?
I have not that imformation.
The Minister has no information on anything.
If the Deputy wanted that information he should have asked for it in the question.