Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 October 2010
493 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the necessary environmental clean-up at the former steel plant site on Haulbowline Island, County Cork. [39014/10]
View answerFrom 2004 to 2009 my Department had an interim role in the management of this legacy site in a manner which is consistent with good practice and minimisation of risk to human health and the environment. Accordingly, my Department arranged for the decontamination and demolition of the buildings on site and, post-demolition, arranged for the procurement of a contractor for site surface clearance, back filling of voids and the disposal of the remaining surface wastes to be undertaken.
In June 2009, the Government decided that the Office of Public Works would chair a working group to develop a structured and coherent approach to the further management of the former Irish Ispat site, and to advise on the site's most beneficial future use. The future use of the site will in itself influence the levels and extent of further works and/or remediation required.
