Environmental groups in Cork Harbour have welcomed the publication of a government report which has found that a dump at Haulbowline does not pose a threat to public health.
The dump contains more than half a million tonnes of hazardous and toxic waste.
However, consultants retained by Minister for the Environment John Gormley have concluded that there are no identified risks to people from materials buried at the site.
The report, which was published today, was commissioned last June from consultants White Young Green.
Mr Gormley ordered the study after new information emerged that the estimated 500,000 tonnes of waste contained highly toxic substances, including the cancer-causing chromium VI.
Because the report has confirmed the presence of toxic chemicals such as chromium VI, lead, mercury, arsenic and nickel - as well as chromium in mussels on and around the island - environmental groups are calling on the Government for a commitment that the site will be made safe.
Now that the report has been made public, attention now turns to what will be done with the dump. There are indications that the Government may be backing away from the very costly option of removing all the dangerous material.
Remediation carries with it a potential price tag of up to €300m. In the current economic climate the Government is unlikely to commit to that scale of investment to clean up the Haulbowline site.
The minister will bring a report to Government early in the New Year.
