COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (2)

Monday, March 25, 2013

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor J. Hannon

"To ask the Manager for a report on the recent fish kill at Dodder River, outlining causes and action taken to prevent a recurrence?"

REPLY:

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) are continuing their investigation into an incident on the River Dodder in the Tallaght area, Co. Dublin which resulted in fish mortalities over approximately a 2km stretch from above Old Bawn Bridge downstream to Firhouse Weir. IFI staff immediately initiated an investigation in response to a complaint of dead fish at Old Bawn Bridge at lunch time on Friday (March 1st, 2013). Adult and juvenile brown trout, in addition to lamprey and stoneloach were killed. While the precise number cannot be confirmed it is likely that the final number of mortalities will be in excess of 500 trout in addition to significant numbers of other fish species. Live fish were recorded immediately upstream of the affected area and immediately downstream of Firhouse weir following the event. Samples have been taken for analysis and IFI are following a definite line of inquiry regarding the source of the contamination which resulted in the fish kill.

South Dublin County Council (SDCC) is unable to add to the above information at the moment as we do not want to prejudice any possible prosecution resulting from this incident in the future. When SDCC has any additional information, it will be passed on to the Councillors immediately. SDCC understands that the Dodder Angling Club has already started to restock this stretch of the Dodder River with trout.