Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Health if an inquiry by the Health Service Executive into contract awards to two building companies, Owenbee Services and Mallerwood Construction, was conducted in June 2006; and the outcome of this inquiry. [21527/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The management and delivery of the health capital programme is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to investigate the relationship between the toxic waste at the former ISPAT site at Haulbowline, County Cork, and general population health in the surrounding area; if he will conduct such an investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21536/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I do not consider that any further public health investigation is warranted in connection with the Haulbowline site in the Cork harbour area.

You will be aware that, as a result of concerns expressed by residents in the Cork Harbour area about the potential health effects of the Haulbowline facility, I asked my Chief Medical Officer to examine the case for a public health study into the effects of the site. The Chief Medical Officer has now completed an analysis of the factors involved and has advised me, based on the considered opinion of experts from the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) and specialists in Public Health Medicine in the Health Service Executive (HSE) who have specific expertise and experience in the area of environmental health, that there are no identified public health grounds that warrant further investigative action.

The Deputy might wish to note that following a recent Government meeting, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced the establishment of a steering group to oversee an application for a licence to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address hazardous waste on Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour and oversee any necessary remedial action required.