Stormont’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister is set to learn the latest estimated cost of fixing environmental damage at the illegal dumping site at Mobuoy in the coming weeks.
Two men were jailed last year for their roles in one of Europe’s largest illegal dumps at the site in Co Londonderry.
Andrew Muir previously told MLAs that the cost of fixing the environmental damage could be as high as £700 million.
On Monday, during questions for his department, Mr Muir said there has been significant work to a draft remediation strategy.
“Work has continued over the summer to update the cost estimates that will inform consideration of the overall financial requirements associated with remediation of the site,” he said.
“My officials plan to present updated cost estimates to me in the coming weeks.
“Once this work is complete, it will inform further discussions and considerations of next steps and associated timescales, taking into account my department’s responsibilities in relation to protecting water quality and the environment.
“The environmental monitoring programme continues to be delivered, and I’m committed to ensuring that it remains in place until a long-term solution is delivered.”
Asked whether, given the scale, has he spoken to the government in London about financial support to progress the clean-up, Mr Muir said he needs to know the final estimated cost.
He said engagement with the Treasury is primarily done by the Department of Finance, adding he trusts the Finance Minister will do that once the final estimated costs are known.
“What I do want to reassure you about is I get the importance of this. I want to make sure that we’re able to adopt this remediation strategy and move forward together around it,” he said.
“So what I would seek to do is meet with the MLAs and MPs and also representatives of council later on this year to give them an update in regards to this issue, because the situation with regards to the dump at Mobuoy is wrong and it needs to remediated.”
