John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

The recently published fourth state of the environment report states there are between 1,980 and 2,300 commercial sites where there is the potential for soil or underground contamination, the exact number being unknown as there is currently no national inventory. Two national initiatives are under way to establish such inventories of historic mines and unregulated waste disposal sites. Regulations in the latter category are at an advanced stage of preparation and will provide a legal framework for remediation of high risk waste disposal sites where municipal waste was disposed of in the period 1977-96. Ireland is also supportive of the proposed EU soils directive, which intends to put in place particular requirements for member states regarding historic contaminated land.

The position in respect of Haulbowline is exceptional in that my Department is addressing a specific Government decision in taking responsibility for the care and maintenance of that unique site, pending a decision on its future use. This is the only such site currently subject to any investigations or reports by my Department. In addition, the Department re-engaged consultants White Young Green to carry out an independent and rigorous assessment of site conditions following extensive unauthorised works earlier this year. In 2005, White Young Green carried out an extensive intrusive site investigation that indicated no evidence of any immediate threat to human health or the environment. Test results will be assessed against baseline data from the previous survey.

At the request of local residents and public representatives, I have arranged for the current ongoing site assessment works and the 2005 report to be peer reviewed by independent experts to offer reassurance to local communities that the scope of works, tests and analyses employed conform to best international practice in determining whether the site poses any immediate health or environmental threat. Both the White Young Green and peer review reports will be published once my Department has received and considered them. I anticipate the reports will be publicly available within a matter of weeks.

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