Gormley insists cabinet will decide shortly on Haulbowline’s future

MINISTER for the Environment John Gormley has said the future of the Cork harbour island of Haulbowline will be decided at a cabinet meeting in coming weeks.

A list of potential options, including whether to cap the toxic waste dump or to continue to re-mediate the site, will be presented to Government. It was estimated by contractors last year that a full clean-up could cost up to e300 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.