Calls for action following fish kill

IRISH Water has been called on to secure manholes along the route of the sewer pipe leading to Tolka Valley following the recent fish kill in the area.

Up to 500 fish were killed in the River Tolka last month after an old car tyre was dumped into a manhole leading to a sewer pipe in Mulhuddart overflowing.

Pollution flowed downstream for almost three kilometres and trout, minnow and stone loach were killed as a result of the incident.

Cllr Paul Donnelly (SF) says he spoke to both the fisheries board investigator and distraught local fish club members on the evening of the overflow.

“The club members were very angry that another disaster has been visited upon this river and said it now seems that there is a major fish kill every year,

? he said.

“I would like to thank the young 14-year-old lad who contacted the Chairperson of the fishing club who in turn called Fingal County Council.

“If it were not for his quick thinking, the damage would have been much worse.

?

Remedial works on the manhole where the pollution began have been carried out by Fingal County Council staff but Cllr Donnelly fears there could be a repeat incident.

“The root cause of the issue, a tyre dumped in the pipe, has not been resolved,

? he said.

“What is to stop another person dumping material along this route again?

“I have called on Irish Water and Fingal County Council to secure the manholes along the route leading to the Tolka. We must do what we can to ensure the Tolka River is as protected as it can be.

“As it stands, this river and the fish and all the wildlife that sustains the river is at risk.

?

Cllr Donnelly has written to Irish Water asking the utility to work with the local fishing clubs in Blanchardstown and Finglas to ensure the damage is rectified and fish are back in the damaged section of the river.

Meanwhile, Social Democrats representative for Castleknock and Blanchardstown, Aengus � Maoláin, wants Fingal County Council to take on responsibility for recycling used car tyres for a trial period at its depot in Coolmine.

� Maoláín described the incident as

“a disaster

? and said illegal dumping was a serious issue in the area.

“Someone dumps a tyre in the Tolka, the tyre blocks a sewer, the sewer overflows into the river, hundreds of fish die, the river stinks to high heaven, and becomes unsafe for the community,

? he added.

“More CCTV, more fines and more policing of dumping sites are all necessary, but they don’t solve the source of this problem.”

“Tyres are a pain in the backside to get rid of legally.

“Coolmine recycling depot won’t take them. Estuary recycling depot in Swords won’t take them. The garage where you got them may charge you an arm and a leg for taking them, or turn you away. Farmers aren’t allowed to keep them anymore, and the companies that do take them for their own uses are limited in how many they can cope with.

?