Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
1916. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions he has had with officials from Cork County Council in the past five months on the Haulbowline east tip remediation project. [33299/18]
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 my Department undertaking the remediation project, ownership of Haulbowline Island was formally transferred to the Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine 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 dedicated project office to manage 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 focused 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.
Throughout the remediation process there is on-going contact between my Department and my agent, Cork County Council, with regular project review meetings. In addition, as and when required, issues are brought to my Department's attention by Cork County Council's team of on-site engineers. I have also appointed an independent quantity surveyor to advise throughout the East Tip remediation project to ensure that value for money is achieved. Cork County Council has advised that works continue to progress well on the East Tip and are expected to be concluded in December 2018.
