Blueprint for island being finalised

THE Department of the Environment is finalising a draft plan on how the Cork harbour island of Haulbowline can be cleaned up and redeveloped.

The blueprint will be brought to cabinet shortly and will list options for the safe disposal of waste from the Irish Steel plant and the redevelopment of the site.

It was estimated by contractors last year that a full clean-up of the site could cost up to €300 million. Options include the storing of waste in tanks or its permanent removal. However, central to any future plans, the department says, is a public consultation process with local communities.