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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 1

Written Answers. - Royal Canal Works.

Liam Lawlor

Ceist:

108 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will give details of the effectiveness of emergency action by the Waterways Service to oxygenate the section of the Royal Canal at Leixlip, County Kildare; whether it was affected by the dumping of weedkiller into the water; the fish loss caused as a result of this dumping; whether the source of the illegal dumping has been identified; the legal action, if any, that will be taken in this regard; when the polluted section of the canal will be restored to normal; and whether fish restocking will be necessary. [14574/96]

The emergency action undertaken by the Waterways Service to oxygenate a stretch of the Royal Canal near Leixlip, County Kildare, has been very effective. Oxygen levels which were critically low have been raised to acceptable levels and are currently being monitored on an ongoing basis.

The problem in this area of the Royal Canal is due to the degeneration of the aquatic vegetation there. While the precise cause of the problem has not yet been established, the condition of the vegetation is consistent with the possible application of a chemical substance. Inquiries to date have not established whether this is due to dumping of a chemical or to some other cause. Samples of water and of the affected vegetation have been taken and are being analysed to try to establish the precise nature of the substance which caused the problem. The question of whether to take legal action will be considered when the cause of the problem has been established definitively and if the source of the problem can be identified. It is the general policy of my Department to take the strongest and most effective action possible, including legal action where appropriate, in consultation with the other enforcement agencies, against anyone polluting the waterways.
It is not possible at this stage to say when this stretch of the canal will return to normal. This will depend on how quickly the vegetation regenerates naturally. Fortunately, due to the vigilance of local people in reporting the problem and the prompt action of the Waterways Service in dealing with it, very few, if any, fish have died as a result of the problem and re-stocking is not considered necessary at this stage.
This is an excellent angling location which was being developed by my Department with the assistance of the Department of the Marine under the EU Structural Funds Tourism Angling Measure. The unauthorised interference — whether it occurred through carelessness, malicious intent or in a misguided effort to improve the area — has set back this development seriously. I again appeal to the public to exercise great care and not to interfere with the waterways without first consulting the Waterways Service, which will be only too pleased to offer advice and, where possible, assistance.
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