asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the marine environmental studies which have been carried out around the Irish coast in recent times; and if he is satisfied that the Dumping at Sea Act, 1981 is being fully complied with in all dumping at sea cases.
Written Answers. - Marine Environmental Studies.
23.
Since 1980 my Department have undertaken or participated in ten main studies on the marine environment around the Irish coast. These include two seabed surveys of Dublin Bay in 1983 and 1988; two seabed surveys of Cork in 1982 and 1988; three water column studies at Cork in 1983, 1984 and 1985; two estuarine marine studies in 1980 and 1985 (which surveyed the Boyne Estuary, Dublin Bay, Waterford Estuary, Cork harbour and the Shannon Estuary) and a study in 1985 of fish and shellfish for the International Council for Exploration of the Seas. I understand that further relevant studies have been undertaken by University College, Galway, the National Board for Science and Technology and the Nuclear Energy Board.
Dumping at sea may only be carried out by way of a licence granted by my Department under the Dumping at Sea Act, 1981. Compliance with conditions laid down in licences is monitored and where there is evidence of non-compliance, licences may not be renewed and court proceedings may be initiated. Examples of conditions in a licence are: a maximum on the quantity to be dumped; monthly sampling and analysis; the material to be dumped can only be dumped at certain times. There may have been a breach of licence conditions in one case, and my Department are currently pursuing the question of legal action.