Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost, in 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011, of dealing with all State responsibilities relating to the former Ispat site at Haulbowline, County Cork; if he will provide a breakdown of these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13262/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Between 2004 and 2010, my Department had an interim role in the management of the former Ispat site in a manner that is consistent with good practice and minimisation of risk to human health and the environment. In that context, my Department arranged for the decontamination and demolition of buildings on the site and, post-demolition, for the procurement of a contractor to carry out site surface clearance, back-filling of voids and the disposal of surface wastes. The costs incurred by my Department from 2008 to 2010 were: 2008, €43.206 million; 2009, €0.714 million; and 2010, €2.029 million. In 2008, the bulk of the expenditure related to the disposal of hazardous material abroad as the facilities to handle such material were not available in Ireland. In 2009 and 2010, expenditure included meeting ongoing site monitoring costs, and a financial settlement last year in relation to a court case taken by former contractors involved in site surface clearance, which was settled for €1.8 million plus costs. No payments have been made to date in 2011.