asked the Minister for the Marine if there was a fish kill on the River Breagagh, County Kilkenny, during the week 3 June 1980; if fish were removed from the river and buried because they were considered to be a health hazard; if so, if the fish were disposed of in order to ensure no further health hazard, if the fish were removed from the river and monitored; if so, the levels of polychlorbiphenyls which were found in them; if the parties to the environment task force set up by the Minister for the Environment, namely ACOT, the fishery board and county council have access to the two commissioned reports on this pollution incident; if not, the way in which the task force carry out their job in the best interests of public health and the environment; if it was thought necessary to put up warning signs, the reason this was not done at the time; the length of time for which monitoring of the river bed and fish will continue; if there will be full and frank reports on the ongoing situation available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Fish Kill.
A spillage of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) occurred in the River Bregagh in June 1980.
The local agencies responsible for the environmental and health implications of the spillage, Kilkenny County Council and the South Eastern Health Board, requested the Fisheries Research Centre (FRC) to provide them with a report. This report was completed in November 1987 and revealed that PCBs were persisting in the fish. Because of this the fish were removed by treating the river with rotenone, a recognised method for fish removal. Following completion of the analysis, the fish removed from the river will be destroyed by incineration.
The provision of information to the public of the health and environmental implications of the PCB spillage and the erection of warning signs are matters for the county council and the health board.
Monitoring of the fish life will be continued as long as it is required.