Vol. 568 No. 5
360 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will order a public inquiry into the allegation of serious health damage to families in the Askeaton area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16799/03]
A multi-agency investigation, co-ordinated by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, was carried out into health problems at Askeaton. The investigation involved a number of human health studies to determine if the health of people living in the area was different to that of residents in surrounding counties and, if so, whether the difference could be attributed to environmental pollution. The results of this investigation did not establish a link to any form of local environmental pollution: it did not find a significant degree of excessive ill health in the Askeaton area and it concluded that there was little basis for the concern that any problems in the area represented a threat to human health.
A further study carried out by the National Cancer Registry examined cancer data relating to the Askeaton area covering the period 1994-99. The results of this study indicates that cancer rates in the Mid-Western Health Board area from 1994-99 were lower than the national average and that cancer rates in the Askeaton study areas 1 and 2 from 1994-99 were lower than the Mid-Western Health Board average and conformed to national and regional patterns by cause. The data as examined by the National Cancer Registry do not support the hypothesis that the incidence of cancer in the Askeaton region is higher than would be expected based on either Mid-Western Health Board or national cancer incidence rates. Against this background I have no plans to initiate a public inquiry in relation to this issue.
