UNLINED landfill dumps, some used for the dumping of sewage sludge or waste from abattoirs, have been sited beside important shellfish areas.
A survey by the Irish Coastal Environment Group found 37 landfill dumps on or near the coast. Six large landfill sites were found to be positioned directly on the shore and washed by the high tide. Four of these were close to important shellfishing areas.
The survey found that 30 of the sites were in or beside a national heritage area, and that almost all were in inlets or estuaries.
"The majority of these areas are also designated as important for wildlife or for shellfish/harvest potential," according to the group's report.
Only one of the dumps surveyed, at Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, was lined to prevent seepage.
Local authorities have responsibility for the siting and administration of landfill dumps. Eleven of those surveyed were situated in the inter tidal area, 14 extended into reedbed or wetland very close to the shore, and 12 were "near shore" or on a river and expected to impact on the coast.
Twenty one of the dumps were over a hectare in size. Seven of the dumps were closed.
A number of factors, including land prices and the likelihood of there being few local residents to complain, make coastal wetland sites attractive to local authorities searching for sites for landfill dumps, according to the group.
The group carried out the survey last summer and have discussed their findings with the authorities. They are now looking for a sponsor to fund a follow up survey, to discover what improvements, if any, have been implemented.
The situation as revealed by the survey is "absolutely atrocious", according to Ms Karin Dubsky, the Dublin based international co ordinator of Coastwatch Europe and one of the co authors of the report.
"Particularly when these dumps are close to shellfish areas. It is begging for some major problem to happen."
Four large landfill sites positioned in the inter tidal zone were found to be close to important shellfish areas. These were Baleally, Co Dublin, Tramore, Co Waterford, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, and Culmore, Lough Foyle, Co Derry. The Co Derry dump was included in the survey as it served both of the Border.
Another five dumps found to be close to rivers - shores connected with shell fish areas. These were Killurin, Co Wexford Youghal, Co Cork, Cork City dump, Rafren, Co Cork, and Aughinish, Co Limerick.
Dumps in the intertidal area require a Department of Marine licence under the Foreshore Acts 1933 and 1992. According to the report, "some sites, such as Tramore backstrand, do not have such a licence".
The group has called for improved administration and managing of landfill dumps, and the urgent introduction of leachate monitoring.
"In the context of coastal sites built into the intertidal area the cost of control is likely to be substantial. Will local authorities be able to raise such finance and will an important habitat or potential for high quality uses, such as shellfish farming, be taken into account to prioritise action?"
An audit of all dumps and the drafting of a schedule for improvements is needed, according to the group. It also recommended that in future the ecological implications of siting a dump in a particular site be considered at the outset.
As part of its survey, the group sent questionnaires to 18 local authorities and received replies from 16. Replies were not received from Cork and Waterford county councils.
