Clean-up at Haulbowline steel plant could face delay

Plans for a major clean-up of the former Irish Steel site on Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour could be delayed after the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform raised concerns about the scale of expenditure on the project.

Briefing documents for the new Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, show his officials have questioned proposals to spend €40m on the Haulbowline site next year.

“This level of proposed expenditure is not affordable in the context of the limited space available under the new EU Fiscal Rules,” Mr Donohoe was informed by his officials.