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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 4

Written Answers. - Toxic Waste.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

40 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the steps, if any, which are being taken to prevent environmental damage from the thousands of tonnes of toxic waste left over after the closure of town gas operations and, in particular, the steps, if any, which are being taken to ensure that the waste does not leak into ground water systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Department of the Environment have requested local authorities to identify, and maintain a record of, land contaminated by past industrial activities for their own information and that of the public and potential developers. While there is, no doubt, the possibility of pollution of groundwaters by contaminated land, I am not aware that disused town gas production facilities and sites in Ireland are in any case actually in conflict with current groundwater use.

Limited remediation works have already been carried out in relation to some sites affected by town gas operations. Full scale remediation would be essential in the context of any significant redevelopment of former gasworks sites.
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