Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide details of the planned review by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan, of the incidence of cancer in the Cobh area as recorded by the National Cancer Registry; and if he will extend this review to include other specific locations (details supplied) in County Cork. [12745/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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In 2008, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government commissioned an independent report on the site conditions at Haulbowline. The assessment involved analysis of soil, slag, dust, surface and ground water samples for all likely contaminants to determine if there was a threat to human health or the environment and to assist in securing the site from a health and safety perspective pending the Government's decision as to its future use.

The report was published in late 2008 and, based on the monitoring works undertaken, concluded that there were no identified risks to the residential inhabitants of Cork Harbour associated with the presence of waste materials at the East Tip on Haulbowline Island. In the light of this finding, the then Minister for Health and Children confirmed that it was not proposed to conduct a baseline health survey for the Cork Harbour region.

The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government continues to oversee an annual Dust Impact Assessment Report in relation to the Haulbowline site. The 2010 report, published in March 2011, stated that "overall it can be concluded that the site activities on the former Irish Steelworks Site at Haulbowline, Cobh, is having no significant impact on the receiving environment in terms of fugitive dust emissions".

I visited Cork on 29 April 2011 and during my visit the matter of the Haulbowline site was raised directly with me. Following on from this, and bearing in mind the extensive nature of the investigations undertaken to date, I have asked the Chief Medical Officer of my Department to advise me if the matter should be investigated further. It is expected the Chief Medical Officer's consideration of this matter will be completed within a period of 4-6 weeks.