Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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492. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will meet the financial commitments made by the last Government in respect of the clean-up on the site of the former Irish Steel works on Haulbowline Island, Cobh, County Cork, given the environmental and physiological impact it has on the lower harbour. [15672/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I have Ministerial responsibility for the remediation of Haulbowline Island and Cork County Council is acting as my agent to deliver the project. The Government has agreed to provide a total of €61m to complete all aspects of the Haulbowline Remediation Project. Total spending by my Department in the period 2012-15 has amounted to €6.77m and funded (in full) the following key preparatory aspects of the remediation project:

- Regularisation of planning and licensing aspects

- Detailed site investigations

- Repair, including partial reconstruction, of key infrastructural access points, Haulbowline Bridges & Bridge access road from mainland

- Detailed quantitative risk assessment (DQRA) study of the former steel factory site and

- Project team salary reimbursements to Cork County Council.

The resource intensive core remediation phases of the project are due to commence later this year (2016) and intensify in 2017, with all aspects of the project due to be completed by mid 2018. In accordance with Government Decisions taken in May 2015 & January 2016 respectively, which broadened the scope of the project and authorised a ‘whole of island’ approach, this project will now deliver the following key aspects:

- Remediation of the former waste deposit site (East Tip) including the provision of a public amenity park on the site

- Ground level basic remediation of the former steelworks factory site (South Tip) and

- Weather proofing of three former military listed stone buildings.

While funding for the remediation project is included in my Department’s estimate, the Government Decisions specify that the funding is ringfenced and provided in addition to the funding requirements of my Department’s core activities. A total of €8m has been provided in my Departments estimates for this year (2016). It is anticipated that €40m may be required to fund the next intensive phase of the planned programme of works. The amount to be included for the project in my Department’s estimate for 2017 will be a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to determine in consultation with my Department having regard to the specific ringfenced nature of the remediation funding.