Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 6

Written Answers. - Animal Deaths.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

42 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to a report published in September 1998 in an American scientific journal (details supplied) which establishes a link between animal deaths in the Askeaton area of County Limerick and aluminium poisoning; the plans, if any, he has to co-operate with the Mid-Western Health Board in conducting the studies that will be necessary in the light of those findings and to ally public concerns in the area arising from the possible public health implications of the concentration of heavy industry in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18851/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The Environmental Protection Agency which is co-ordinating a major investigation into animal health problems in the Askeaton area of County Limerick since 1995 recently issued a press statement regarding the report referred to by the Deputy. The statement emphasised that the reported connection between disease and deaths of animals and aluminium contamination is not substantiated by the published results of the animal health investigations conducted in the area since 1995.

These investigations involve an input from a number of agencies including the Mid-Western Health Board which is examining possible implications for public health in the area. Funding has been provided by my Department on an ongoing basis to the public health department of the Mid-Western Health Board since 1995 in support of their investigations into the human health aspects. The Mid-Western Health Board has found no evidence to date of excess human disease in the area which could be linked to aluminium.