Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
557 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the work to decontaminate a site (details supplied) in Cork harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8720/04]
View answerMy Department has been assigned the operational responsibilities associated with the former Irish ISPAT site, including the advancement of the site investigation and remediation processes.
Cork County Council has agreed to take a front-line role on my Department's behalf in advancing the site investigation exercise, which is designed to determine more precisely the nature and extent of contamination of the site and an appropriate remediation programme. The council is about to commence the process of engaging professional expertise which it requires to manage those processes. Following that, tenders for the site investigation exercise will be sought with the intention of commencing the process in autumn 2004.
In parallel, Cork County Council has taken steps to secure the site better and ensure that necessary maintenance continues to be carried out. Arrangements have also been made for the identification of potentially hazardous materials which can readily be removed from the site; removal of some materials has already taken place, and the removal of further materials is currently under consideration.
