Haulbowline clean-up costs ready for Cabinet

THE Cabinet is expected to be advised, by the end of next month, the estimated cost of making safe a toxic waste dump in Cork harbour.

It is expected the cost of the Haulbowline clean-up will be borne by different Government departments.

Minister Simon Coveney, who has taken personal responsibility for the former steel plant site, is preparing to finalise plans for the proposed works. He is also making plans for setting up a steering committee with responsibility for the project, including making public a timeline.

The minister said yesterday that Cork County Council had put together a project team, which would soon lodge a licence application for site work with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Mr Coveney said he would be informing cabinet colleges of the estimated costs so they could be factored into budgets.

“We are trying to move this on as a priority. It is something I hope the entire community of the harbour will welcome and support as we go forward,” he said.

Mr Coveney said he had already held discussions with public representatives and local authorities in the area as well as some residents’ groups “so as to make the process as inclusive and transparent as possible. This engagement will be happening on an on-going basis.”

The existence of the toxic dump was revealed by the Irish Examiner in June 2008. The dump, situated next to the former Irish Steel/Irish Ispat plant, contained a number of heavy metals and Chromium 6 — one of the most carcinogenic elements known to man.

It would costs hundreds of millions to remove all the waste, so it is likely the Government will encase the site in concrete.

Cllr Sean O’Connor, who lives in Cobh, said he was “at least happy that Minister Coveney seemed to be pushing ahead with the project, unlike the last Government. They pushed it from one department to the other and ended up doing absolutely nothing.”

However, the independent councillor said he remained worried about a number of health issues pertaining in the lower harbour and, in particular, the far higher than normal cancer rates in Cobh.

“We need to find out what is causing this and it will have to be resolved. As soon as we have the Haulbowline site out of the equation the better,” Mr O’Connor said.

Mr Coveney recently addressed the town council on how he hoped to make the site safe. “I found him very forthright about it. He said he would report back to the town council in either October or November and I’m hoping he will honour that commitment,” Mr O’Connor said.