“MILLIONS” of euros will be spent on the removal of asbestos from sites in West Clare.
Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling confirmed that “significant costs” will be incurred during the remediation of asbestos from different sites in West Clare.
Tender competitions for multidisciplinary consultancy services for the remediation of sites containing ACM (asbestos containing material) were published in November with an appointment of technical advisors for the final remediation of all sites due once all submissions are received, the deadline for applications is this month.
Seán Lenihan of the Council’s Project Management Office outlined that the consultants will oversee and sign off on necessary remedial works.
“In the interim, the sites, having been rendered safe following the carrying out of temporary works in consultation with the EPA, continue to be routinely monitored by Council staff,” Dowling detailed in his monthly management report.
Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) queried what the expected cost would be at the December sitting of the County Council.
Staff within the local authority “continually report” on asbestos, Dowling stated, its removal forms part of a “long-term strategy”. He revealed, “the costs are significant and will be in the millions to remediate it”.
Work to maintain the sites in “a safe manner” is ongoing, Dowling stated. He explained that there was “no immediate danger to public health” because of the sites.
Clare County Council in March 2014 launched a major investigation into the dumping of asbestos. An external independent investigation was commissioned after asbestos waste materials were found at nine separate places, following a complaint from a member of the public in June 2013.
Of these sites, six were in Kilkee and three in Kilrush. Prolonged inhalation of asbestos can cause serious health problems. Asbestos has been blamed for some 120,000 deaths every year from diseases caused as a result of exposure to the building material.
