IRISH and British authorities are due to exchange oil residue samples this week to establish if oil pollution on Wexford beaches and last month's grounding of an oil tanker off the Welsh coast are linked.
Contact has been made with the British Marine Pollution Control Unit and samples from the affected beaches are to be forwarded on behalf of Wexford County Council. Tagged birds, which have been linked to the Sea Empress oil slick, have already been found off the Wexford coast.
Work is due to resume today on the final clean up of the affected areas on the south east coast, according to Wexford County Council. Although strong east to south east winds have been forecast, there have been no reports of further oil deposits.
A county council spokesman, Mr Tony Larkin, said the authority would be taking legal advice once the origin of the pollution was determined. He said he was, aware of the discovery of tagged birds but would not comment until the source had been identified conclusively.
Some 70 miles of the 80 mile Wexford coastline were affected by the residue, washed up late last week in easterly winds. Wexford County Council has confirmed that it received no satellite warning of the deposits.
The Irish Wildbird Conservancy, which monitored the effect on wildlife, said that it was not a "disaster".
Council teams were deployed to clear up the mess, with priority given to the Blue Flag beaches at Courtown, Curracloe and Rosslare Strand. The local authority said at the weekend the situation was under control.
The cost of the clean up, which is unknown, is currently being borne by the county council. The Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES) is continuing to monitor the situation and is keeping in close contact with the council.
