asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties arising from the pollution of certain lakes and rivers, in particular Lough Sheelin, County Cavan as the result of activities of certain pig farmers and if he proposes to take any action in relation to the protection of the natural environment.

I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 4, 5 and 6 together.

I am aware that pollution from agricultural sources, including run-off from slurry-spreading on land, has been giving rise to problems in some areas, notably in the Lough Sheelin catchment and I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 367 on 27 February, 1980, in which I pointed out that the problem of over-enrichment in this lake and its feeder streams is largely an agricultural one, a solution to which is being actively sought by a number of bodies. My Department is participating in these efforts.

It is for the local authority to take any necessary action in relation to offences under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977. Officers of my Department have visited the Lough Sheelin area and reported to me on conditions in the area. My Department wrote subsequently to the Cavan County Council, drawing attention to their responsibilities in the matter and requesting that every effort be made by the council to prevent pollution of the lake from any source and to secure appropriate evidence for prosecution of offenders.

As regards the operation of the 1977 Act generally, I have, on two recent occasions, publicly expressed dissatisfaction at the limited extent to which the wide ranging powers under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977 have been availed of by local authorities and I have indicated that I expect a more positive approach to the implementation of the Act. I am having the matter pursued with local authorities.

With regard to possible further legislation in the water pollution control area, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 310 on 11 March, 1980.

Detailed information as to the number of prosecutions taken under the Act, the location of the areas or waters in respect of which any such prosecutions were taken, or the outcome of such prosecutions, is not available to me. In this connection, I might point out that prosecutions for some of the primary offences under the Act may be taken by any person. As to prosecutions by authorities, I am aware of four prosecutions in 1978, one in County Wexford, two in County Limerick and one in Offaly. A fine of £200 was imposed in the Offaly case. No fines were imposed in the other three cases, where the defendants gave undertakings to discontinue the polluting discharge.

Would the Minister of State say what action, if any, his Department have taken in relation to Lough Sheelin since the Taoiseach gave his personal undertaking to have the matter rectified and can he tell the House whether his Department have had any communication from the Taoiseach in relation to that undertaking?

The matter of the pollution of Lough Sheelin, as I said in my reply, is getting the attention which it needs. Again, it is entirely a matter for the local authority and we have been pressing them for action as regards this matter. As I said, I am not satisfied that the Water Pollution Act, 1977, is being administered by the local authorities in the way we would expect. The Taoiseach is keeping in close touch with the situation because, like everybody else, he is interested in preventing this kind of pollution, which is all too prevalent.

Is the Minister of State aware of the undertaking given by the Taoiseach to the action group formed in connection with Lough Sheelin?

I am well aware of the Taoiseach's interest in Lough Sheelin.

Will the Minister tell the House if his Department have done anything else since that specific undertaking was given by the Taoiseach?

We have given this matter our full attention since the statement by the Taoiseach. I am well aware of his interest in this matter and in the general subject of pollution. All possible steps have been taken to pursue the matter but it is primarily the responsibility of Cavan County Council and my Department are constantly in touch with them on the matter.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it not a fact that there is a committee consisting of representatives of the Departments of Forestry and Fisheries, Environment and Agriculture dealing with this matter and investigating ways of facilitating the disposal of slurry? Further, is it not a fact that a Minister of the Taoiseach stated that in the national interest and in the interest of the economy of County Cavan the disposal of the slurry would be facilitated by grant aid?

The Deputy is correct when he says that people from my Department and from the Departments of Agriculture and Fisheries and Forestry as well as other interests are investigating the problem. With the help of agricultural advisers they are trying to find ways of dealing with the matter to the satisfaction of all concerned. Allegations that Cavan County Council are not accepting responsibility with regard to this matter have been investigated. It is not an easy problem to deal with. It is an urgent matter and I can assure the House that everything possible has been done to find an acceptable solution.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I take it the Minister is aware that piggeries in the area in question were constructed in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the Department of Agriculture and with the assistance of grants provided by the Department. Finally, I suggest to the Minister, as would appear from his original reply, that there are other offending agencies contributing to the pollution. Town sewage is finding its way into the lake. Is that not a fact?

It is mainly an agricultural problem—

We cannot discuss all the methods that could be used to deal with Lough Sheelin. It is a local question and we have dealt adequately with it.

(Cavan-Monaghan): It is a national question.

Some of the other questions are more general.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I suggest to the Minister of State that the disposal of town sewage from three counties is contributing to the pollution. What is the Minister's comments on that?

Many things are contributing to pollution throughout the country but the main problem with Lough Sheelin is an agricultural one. It is the over-enrichment of Lough Sheelin from the agricultural spill-over that is in question. The Deputy will agree with me that this is a difficult problem for Cavan County Council to deal with and all of us would like to see an acceptable solution for all concerned. I want to assure the House that everything possible is being done in this matter.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I appreciate that the Minister's reply has been reasonable. I wish to establish that local authority sewage is discharging—

The Deputy is giving information. He is not asking a question.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Although the Minister is slow to accept what I have said, he does not deny it.