Written answers

Wednesday, 25 November 2015

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Water Pollution

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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204. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he or any agency under the aegis of his Department have acted on a matter (details supplied) in County Longford, where the Circuit Court has indicated the view that this is a serious issue for the entire Shannon river basin and has national implications with regard to European Union directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41894/15]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I am aware of the issue raised by the Deputy and my Department has actively engaged on it with Longford County Council. This issue arises from a disused piggery which presents a water pollution risk and which has been the subject of court proceedings. While primary responsibility under the Water Pollution Acts rests with the local authority, my Department has participated in the task force established at the behest of Longford District Court in order to consider the possible means by which this pollution risk could ultimately be eliminated. The task force has met on three occasions and has monitored the on-going position while considering options for the containment of the risk and ultimate site resolution opportunities.

In November 2015, my Department provided funds of €50,000 to Longford County Council to alleviate the immediate risk of pollution to waters. This funding was used to remove some 220,000 gallons of soiled water from the site which alleviated the emergency situation and created additional storage capacity on site.

While a final engineering solution to this problem is being prepared, a site survey report commissioned by Longford County Council indicates the presence of some hazardous waste at a number of locations around the site and advises that this material should be removed before any further works are carried out. In this context, and in order to ensure that the presence of this hazardous waste material in no way impedes future works which may be required to prevent pollution, my Department has written recently to Longford County Council and has committed funding to support the costs associated with managing this particular aspect of the case.

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