Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 4

Written Answers. - Water Pollution.

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

186 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the amount of water polluting incidents which have been reported since 1992; the action, if any, which has been taken to prevent reoccurrence of such incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16448/97]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace)

My Department does not compile statistics on water pollution incidents. However, records in respect of incidents resulting in fish kills are maintained by the Marine Institute's Fishery Research Centre from reports furnished by regional fisheries boards and local authorities. According to these records, the number of fish kills in each of the years since 1992, and to date in 1997, was as follows: 1992, 51; 1993, 33; 1994, 32; 1995, 84; 1996, 47; 1997, 36 (to 10/10/97). Primary responsibility to prevent pollution incidents rests with those engaged in activities that could entail a pollution risk. However, local authorities, as statutory pollution control authorities, have a key role in protecting water resources and avail of an extensive range of powers to give effect to their responsibilities in this area. At 31 December 1996, a total of 1,882 licences issued by local authorities in respect of the control of effluent discharges were in force. During 1996, local authorities carried out more than 6,000 inspections or investigations into activities that posed a pollution risk and issued 1,346 statutory notices specifying measures to be taken in order to prevent pollution. They also issued advice or warnings in 5,195 cases.

In view of my concern about the number and impact of pollution incidents during the summer, I wrote to local authorities in August 1997 urging them to intensify their efforts to identify potential pollution sources and to take appropriate follow-up action to eliminate the risks involved. They have particularly been asked to ensure that industrial effluent discharge licence conditions, operational practices and material/waste storage facilities are adequate to safeguard water resources. In relation to agriculture, I have asked local authorities to pursue a programme of visits to farms/intensive production units and to give special attention to the management of animal slurries, silage effluent and sheep dip facilities including disposal arrangements.

I have drawn the attention of local authorities to the need to ensure that water and sewerage treatment plants are maintained and operated to design specification to prevent pollution. This is essential in order to achieve maximum benefit from the major programme of capital investment being undertaken by my Department in conjunction with local authorities in the provision of new and improved sewage treatment facilities.

The State has provided a total of almost £96 million 1995 and 1996 for this purpose. In addition, about half of the £150 million earmarked for expenditure on water and sewerage schemes this year will be spent on new and ongoing sewerage projects.

I have urged local authorities to use the statutory provisions available to them to recover costs associated with the prosecution of offenders, including the cost of measures to mitigate or remedy the damage done; these provisions offer a mechanism to offset the effects of pollution and augment the deterrent value of penalties imposed by the courts in line with the polluter pays principle.

I also conveyed my concerns about the extent to which agriculture continues to be responsible for pollution incidents to the presidents of the two main farmers' associations. I drew attention to the substantial State financial support made available under the control of farmyard pollution scheme and the rural environment protection scheme, as well as the improved capital allowances for targeted investment by farmers in pollution control measures. This support has assisted farmers in providing waste storage facilities and in making other improvements to prevent pollution. I emphasised the necessity for farmers to make full use of these facilities and urged farm leaders to intensify the efforts of their associations to promote environmental friendly farming practices among their members.