Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
1915. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated impacts the proposed incinerator in Ringaskiddy will have on the Haulbowline remediation completion project. [33298/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department was tasked with taking responsibility for the submission of an application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regularise the licensing status of the East Tip of Haulbowline Island in relation to the hazardous waste deposited on this site. The requirement for a waste licence at the East Tip arises from the outstanding measures necessary to comply with the judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union dated 26 April 2005 in Case C-494/01. To ensure that there were no legal obstacles to the Department undertaking the project, ownership of Haulbowline Island was formally transferred at Ministerial level in October 2013.
Funding for the remediation of the Haulbowline Island is ring-fenced in my Department’s Vote for this specific purpose and the remit of my Department relates only to the remediation of the island. Cork County Council is appointed as my agent for the operational delivery of the remediation project. Cork County Council has a project office commissioned for managing the Haulbowline Island Remediation Project.
My Department assumed responsibility for remediation works at Haulbowline Island in 2012. In the period up to 2017 expenditure was focussed on preparing for and securing the necessary planning and waste licence consents and upgrading the island infrastructure (bridge and access road) in anticipation of works. Following the signing of a contract in July 2017, remediation works commenced at the East Tip site in late 2017. I visited the site in December 2017 and was pleased to see the pace at which works had already progressed. The works on the East Tip site remain on course for completion in December this year.
In respect of the proposed incinerator in Ringaskiddy and the possible implications for the remediation works at Haulbowline Island, it remains unclear as to whether there will be overlap in the timelines for works at the respective sites.
I am advised by Cork County Council that should such an overlap occur under condition 7 of the direction issued by An Bord Pleanála, a Construction Management Plan will have to be agreed with the planning authority prior to the commencement of construction. As part of this plan, construction traffic to and from the site will have to be detailed. In granting permission, An Bord Pleanála found that subject to compliance with the conditions set out, the proposed development "would not have unacceptable impacts on existing traffic patterns on the nearby N28 route or on other roads in the area".
Additionally, I am advised by my agent, Cork County Council, that no non-road related impacts are foreseen from the proposed development of the facility at Ringaskiddy. On this basis I have no reason to believe that the proposed development of the facility at Ringaskiddy will cause any meaningful impact on the delivery of remediation activities at Haulbowline Island.
