Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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406. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if investigations into the fire at the Oxigen plant in Ballymount have been completed; if he will supply the report; and if it has not been produced, the date on which it will be. [16715/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Environmental Protection Agency has completed and submitted to my Department a report on their assessment of the impact on air quality of the fire which occurred over the period January 25 - 29 at the Oxigen facility in Ballymount. In compiling the report, the EPA has consulted with the Health Services Executive who provided information and advice with regard to the human health impacts related to the fire.

The assessment is based on data available from a number of fixed sites in Dublin which form part of the national network of air quality monitoring stations, and measurements of air quality collected in close proximity to the fire using portable monitoring equipment operated by EPA personnel.

The ambient air quality monitoring data indicates that the fire had no significant impact on air quality across the greater Dublin area. As anticipated, the level of pollutants in the smoke plume in close proximity to the fire were elevated in a number of cases and indicate the potential for short-term effects such as discomfort for exposed individuals. However, those following the health advice which issued at the time of the incident are unlikely to have experienced these levels for any significant period of time.

Overall, the results of the air quality monitoring indicate that the air quality impact of the fire was localised and transient and there was no significant potential for any long-term health impacts as a result of this incident. The report will be made available through the EPA website this week. The EPA is continuing its investigations into the incident from a licence compliance perspective, after which further enforcement action may be considered. The priority for the EPA is to ensure that the necessary management practices are in place to eliminate the causes of this type of incident and to protect human health and the environment.

The investigation of the fire by An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda authorities. A report prepared by Dublin Fire Brigade on the incident has been sent to my Department for information. While the report will be considered in the context of any procedural or operational policy initiatives which may mitigate this sector’s particular fire risks, the question of publication of the report is a matter for the Dublin Fire Brigade in the first instance.