Sir, - In the article on World Environment Day (The Irish Times, June 7th), the Minister for the Environment, Mr Noel Dempsey, is quoted as appealing to people here to take individual responsibility and saying that the current economic boom "does not have to mean increased environmental pressures". "We have no excuse for not taking action."
Since May 23rd, both individuals and Sandymount and Merrion Residents' Association tried to stop Dublin Corporation from dumping recovered sewage sludge on to nesting birds (skylarks, swifts and sand martins) on the Poolbeg Peninsula. Despite phone calls to the City Manager's office, the Corporation's cleansing department, the EPA and the Department of the Environment, the dumping of sludge continued.
On May 25th, a letter to the City Manager was delivered by hand and a complaint was logged in at the local Garda station. Copies of our letter were sent to our local councillors and the Minister. The councillors immediately contacted the City Manager.
By June 1st, tipping was still continuing and a second letter was delivered by hand to the City Manager setting a deadline for a reply to confirm that all dumping would cease. No reply has been received to date.
The skylarks are now dead. They are on the amber list of Irish endangered bird species. The Environmental Awareness Campaign is entitled: "It's easy to make a difference". On the contrary, when the gamekeeper turns poacher it is well-nigh impossible. - Yours, etc.,
Lorna Kelly, Environmental Committee, Sandymount and Merrion Residents' Association, Sandymount Castle Park, Dublin 4.