Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - Industrial Effluent.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

145 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to any reluctance on the part of the regional fisheries boards to exercise their right to intervene in the planning process at local authority level by way of stating objections to applications where there is an appreciable risk to water qualify and fish stocks; whether the relevant fisheries board objected to the planning application in a case (details supplied) where the threat of industrial effluent to fish stocks would have been a concern on the part of many observers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16051/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

The regional fisheries boards involve themselves closely and on an ongoing basis with the local authorities, An Bord Pleanála and the Environmental Protection Agency in the planning and environmental licensing process where applications have potential impact on fisheries and fish habitats. There is no reluctance on the part of the fisheries boards to actively pursue their statutory concerns in that process.

The application to which the Deputy refers was made to the Environmental Protection Agency for an effluent discharge licence. The EPA statutorily consults a number of agencies, including the relevant regional fisheries boards on all such applications. In this particular case, I am advised that the regional fisheries board concerned, tabled a series of recommendations on various aspects of the application which the EPA took into account in reaching its decision.