Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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519. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of the planned remediation works at Haulbowline Island, County Cork ; the cost of the plan to develop a public park and related amenities on the site in 2016 and in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15923/16]

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

- 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) 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)

- Weather proofing of three former military listed stone buildings

While funding for this project is included in my Department’s estimate the Government Decisions specify that the funding is ring fenced for the remediation of Haulbowline Island and is provided in addition to the funding requirements for my Department’s core activities.