Rosmuc residents fear mast could pose health threat

Rosmuc in the Connemara Gaeltacht is best known for its association with Padraig Pearse, teacher, writer and leader of the 1916 Rising. Over the past couple of months, however, the thoughts of the community have been preoccupied with a rising of another kind - the erection of an Esat Digifone mast at the local Garda station.

It's one of several disputes involving local communities and Esat Digifone around the State, the best known being the situation at Easky, Co Sligo, which led to last week's application for a High Court injunction by a group of parents.

Such has been the depth of feeling in Rosmuc that concerned residents physically blocked attempts by Esat to start work on upgrading the mast.

The community has only recently suspended a round-the-clock protest which it began almost two months ago and which continued through Christmas and this month's rains and gales. The concern was not over mobile phone masts per se, but the location of the Rosmuc plans and possible adverse health effects.

The Garda station is within 15 metres of the local national school and about 30 to 40 metres from the secondary school. It is also across the road from the local football pitch, and across the lake from the cottage where Pearse spent summers.

"So you see," says Christopher Walsh, chairman of the local community group and of the protest committee, "a child starts off in primary and has possible exposure right up till late teens." It was on the Internet that the Rosmuc community gleaned most of its information - some of it favourable, some of it not. Anything and everything on nonionising radiation was browsed through, and links were established with other concerned communities. Given that mobile phones and their supporting base stations, or masts, have existed only for a decade, research is still at a very early stage.

Recently, some scientific studies have claimed that microwave electromagnetic radiation, similar to that emitted by this technology, can damage DNA in rats and mice and affect levels of a substance associated with the growth of tumours. However, the International Committee on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection, which set the relevant standards, says there is no proof of such adverse effects.

Esat Digifone echoes this view. The current scientific debate is focused on the handsets rather than on the masts.

One of the big problems is that no planning permission is required. Under the deal made between Esat Digifone and the Department of Justice in 1996, Garda communications will benefit. The upgrading of masts used for VHF and UHF radio communications will assist with the force's £26 million PULSE information technology programme. By leasing its masts to Esat, it has been estimated it could save up to £3 million a year.

Recently, the Rosmuc community received news which helped to allay some of its fears. In deference to the community's concerns, the company said it would not continue with any developments at the Garda station until there had been further discussions. An alternative site would be investigated.

However, the company told The Irish Times late last week that no decision had been taken to switch locations and it was still in discussion. It had a requirement to provide coverage under licensing regulations, and it was "ironic" there was this level of opposition in Rosmuc, given that it had been accused in the early period of discriminating against Irish-speaking business people.

The company was anxious to provide good coverage in Connemara, the spokesman said, and was already using RTE and ESB masts in other areas, such as Costello, Maam Cross, Tully Cross, Oughterard and Clifden. "Rosmuc is a bit of a blackspot, which we want to do something about." Mr Walsh believes that it is time for the Department of the Environment to appoint a fulltime inspectorate, which would address health issues and people's genuine concerns.