Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 596: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans his Department holds for the necessary cleansing of the south park area in Galway; the funding that will be made available to the local authority to assist in this matter; the additional funding that has been sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14073/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Correspondence has been received in my Department from Galway City Council in relation to the long closed unlicensed landfill at Southpark in Galway City. It is understood that a risk assessment is currently being undertaken by the Council, under the supervision of the Environmental Protection Agency, and that a formal submission, including costings, will be forwarded to the Department once this is concluded.

In 2006 Exchequer funding of €10m was provided for the first time to local authorities to assist in the remediation and aftercare of a number of closed landfills. This new funding line was in recognition of the considerable expense being incurred by local authorities in remediating these landfills to the highest environmental standards. A further €10.5m will be allocated in 2007. Under the NDP 2007-2013 the Government will continue to prioritise landfill remediation by providing Exchequer assistance to local authorities towards certain landfill remediation costs. Any proposals received from Galway City Council will be assessed for grant aid in this context.