Toxic dump fears have not gone away

THE debate continues, with little progress, on the toxic dump scandal at Haulbowline in Cork Harbour.

Last month members of Cork County Council heard representatives of the Department of the Environment and White, Young Green consultants make a presentation on their assessment carried out at the former Irish Steel site.

I listened attentively to the presentation but fears remain with me as no doubt they will with the residents of the Great Island. Fears going back to June 2008 when 50,000 tonnes of waste was found buried at the site.

Traces of the cancer-causing chemicals were found in materials removed from the site for treatment in Germany.

Where do you find Chromium 6?

It depends where you look. The damage to the region has already been done. It is not like the contaminants happened in recent times. It was ongoing from the 1950s to the 1990s and that is what we have to be concerned about.

A report by the National Cancer Research Register, released last July, indicated cancer rates for the Cobh urban area were 44% higher than the national average. What ill effects will the materials removed from the site and used on road construction in the Cobh area have on residents?

Fears about the risk to health from the dump are very real. Not enough is known about the subject and, with experts differing, the public are confused and frightened. It is they who have to contend with the downside of the issue on a daily basis, not Minister Gormley, Cork County Council, Government departments or environmental consultants.

The very least the residents of Great Island are entitled to is to be fully informed on all aspects of the former Irish Steel site. This may yet necessitate a public inquiry.

Cllr Noel Collins

Midleton

Co Cork