LOUGH CORRIB POND WEED COULD ATTRACT EU FINES

Date Published: 30-Mar-2011

The public service recruitment embargo has stalled work on the removal of dangerous African Pond Weed in Lough Corrib.

Local divers employed by the Western Fisheries Board up until Christmas have not had their contracts renewed this year.

Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins says the money IS there to employ the divers however.

MEP Higgins says if left unchecked, African Pond weed can heighten the risk of contamination of the public drinking water supply and raise the likelihood of flooding.

The Ireland North West MEP will raise the matter with Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar in Brussels on Thursday.

Jim Higgins is warning that the presence of the weed in Galway is leaving the State open to large EU fines.