asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state if the discharge into the sea of sewage matter from large areas of population is inimical to fishes and shell-fish; and if the projected sewerage scheme for the Borough of Dún Laoghaire is likely to cause harm to fishing in Dublin Bay.

I am advised that apart from some risk of contamination to shell-fish, such as already exists in Dublin Bay, the discharge of sewage matter into the open sea would have little, if any, adverse effect upon fish. The reply to the latter part of the question is in the negative.