Written Answers. - Canister Investigation.
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:
433
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for the Marine
the results of the investigation into canisters found on Inchydoney beach in west Cork and at Youghal, east Cork; whether similar canisters have been found at Castle-townbere, County Cork; the other containers, if any, which have been found on this coastline; and the information the Government have of chemical and munitions dumps off our coast.
[6377/96]
Twenty six empty canisters were found on our shores this year. They posed no danger whatsoever. The canisters have been identified as marker location marine canisters or smoke candles as they are commonly known. They are approximately 16 inches in length and three to five inches in diameter.
The canisters were found at the following locations:
County Cork: 3 at Inchydoney; 1 at Castletownbere; 2 at Ballycotton; 1 at Clonakilty; 1 at Garryvoe, Middleton; 2 at Youghal.
County Wexford: 1 at Ballinesker; 1 at Ravenpoint; 3 at Cullenstown/ Black-swell; 3 at Courtown; 2 at Carne; 1 at Cullenstown Strand; 1 at Rosslare; 1 at Kilmore Quay.
County Wicklow: 2 at Arklow, County Wicklow.
County Waterford: 1 at Ardmore.
The canisters found at Inchydoney, Castletownbere, Clonakilty, Youghal and Cullenstown-Blackswell are, I understand the first of their type ever reported on our shores. The canisters were marked with the words calcium phosphide. When calcium phosphide comes in contact with water-damp air it gives off smoke and phosphine for about five minutes. Because phosphone gas decomposes rapidly in water, these canisters are highly unlikely to pose any danger to fish stocks.
The remainder of the empty canisters washed up on our shores are regular marine signal candles. These types of empty canisters are washed up on our shores each year due to storms at sea.
Empty canisters pose no danger to the public. However, precautions must be taken in the event of full canisters being found. A procedure to deal with such incidents is in place: when a canister is found the gardaí will notify Army Operations who will immediately investigate the finding and on the basis of the investigation will decide what course of action should be taken. The marine emergency service division of the Department of the Marine issues alert notices and navigational warnings advising mariners on how to deal with such situations.
One full canister was washed up on the shore at Ballycastle, County Mayo. The gardaí immediately notified Army Operations who exploded the canister on the beach. The investigation into the sources of these canisters is being actively pursued.
With regard to the Deputy's question in relation to munitions dumped off our coast the position is that the UK authorities dumped redundant explosives, non-chemical and chemical munitions at the following locations: (a) Sites located off the coast of Donegal at depths from 3,000 to 8,000 feet (nearest site 65 miles off the coast). (b) Sites located off the coast of Cork/Kerry at depths from 2,000 feet to 10,500 feet (nearest site 250 miles). (c) Beaufort Dyke — 25 miles off the coast of Larne at depths from 600 feet to 1,000 feet.
Details of munitions dumped are as follows: (a) Between 1945 and 1957 a total of 150,000 tonnes of mustard, phosgene and brombenzyl cyanide charged munitions were dumped off the coasts of Donegal and Cork-Kerry. Method of disposal was in scuttled vessels. (b) Between 1955 and 1956 17,000 tonnes of Tabun charged munitions were dumped off the coast of Donegal. Also dumped were 300 tonnes of arsenical compounds and 3 tonnes of toxic seed dressing comprising commercially available fungicides Granosan and Panogene. Method of disposal was in sealed vessels. (c) In 1948, 14,000 tonnes of artillery rockets filled with phosgene were dumped in waters off Beaufort Dyke. Method of disposal involved the jettisoning of munitions packed in crates. (d) An estimated 1 million tonnes of non-chemical munitions were dumped at Beaufort Dyke up to 1976. Method of disposal involved the jettisoning of munitions packed in crates.
