Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Department's remit is to facilitate a thorough investigation of the site and to report to Government thereon to allow for a Government decision on the future use of the site. The Minister will report the outcome of this exercise to Government in the coming months.

In the meantime, a contractor engaged in interim surface clearance works disturbed a quantity of hazardous material on the east tip. In defiance of instructions from the Department the contractor persisted with unauthorised works and it ultimately became necessary to terminate his contract. The Department's instructions, which were endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency, were designed to prevent any further piecemeal unauthorised works which could have unknown environmental consequences.

The matter is being handled by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister has met with people from the area and has explained to them the situation in terms of the information available. He will report on the matter to Government as soon as the report, in respect of the site which has existed for 30 years, becomes available.

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