Vol. 399 No. 4
98 Dr. McDaid asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concern expressed by the people of Inishowen regarding the continued pollution of the River Foyle, which is due, in part, to the waste of Altnagelvin Hospital being deposited there; and the steps which are being taken to prevent Donegal from being the garbage disposal outlet of the Department of the Environment of Northern Ireland.
I am aware of public concern arising out of the discovery of hospital clinical waste from Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry which washed ashore along parts of the Donegal coast along Lough Foyle.
The North Western Health Board's community medical staff and environmental health officers met with staff responsible for public health in the Derry area when the source of the waste was identified. They received assurances from the Western Health and Social Services Board in Northern Ireland that new procedures put in place in Derry will ensure that there is no recurrence of the problem.
Donegal County Council which is the authority responsible for dealing with sanitary services including waste disposal have, with the assistance of the health board, collected the waste and returned it to the Northern Ireland authorities.
