Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputies have already outlined the seriousness of this issue, which is a fundamental threat to human health in the Border counties. I recognise that and I reiterate that the Minister will be raising this issue as a matter of priority with the Northern Ireland Executive and with the Minister for the Environment, Mr. Durkan. It will also be raised at the next meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, which is welcome. All agencies must come together to stamp out this horrendous activity.

Again, I reassure Deputies that Louth County Council has carried out regular sampling at various properties throughout the water distribution system for Dundalk. The drinking water sample results for the Dundalk public water supply scheme for 2014 for PAHs show that it is fully compliant with the drinking water regulations. The river water results taken at the Dundalk water supply abstraction point on the River Fane during 2014 showed that COD was less than 40 mg/l during the year and therefore was compliant with the quality of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water regulations. The drinking water samples for Dundalk town and environs have all been compliant with the drinking water regulations of 2013 with the exception of one instance of lead detection. The investigation of this lead non-compliance showed that there was no lead on the public side of the public water supply.

While tackling the problem of diesel laundering and the subsequent waste which arises is both challenging and costly, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is committed to working with the authorities on both sides of the Border to deliver more effective and co-ordinated enforcement of the law. The multi-agency approach for which Deputies are calling, whereby all of the relevant agencies would bring their skills and expertise together and apply them to the task at hand, is the best approach to tackling this irresponsible and dangerous environmental crime.

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