Simon Coveney seeks extra funds for Haulbowline Island overhaul

Simon Coveney, the agriculture, food, and marine minister, is to seek Cabinet approval within weeks for a significant increase in funding for the remediation of Haulbowline Island and its toxic waste dump sites in Cork Harbour.

Mr Coveney made the announcement yesterday as he officially reopened the refurbished bridges to the island — the headquarters of the Irish Naval Service.

The bridges have undergone a €1.85m repair and upgrade as part of the preparatory phase of the €40m Haulbowline Island remediation project which will see €8m spent this year alone cleaning the Ispat/Irish Steel east tip and factory sites.