There is "anecdotal evidence" to suggest potentially toxic material, removed from the former Irish Steel plant in Cork, was used in the construction of roads, according to the government.

While one building firm has confirmed it did purchase uncontaminated material from the site.

Replying to a written request from fellow TD Ciaran Lynch, Environment Minister John Gormley said it would seem resources from the controversial Haulbowline site had been utilised.

But Mr Lynch suggested there is "more than anecdotal" evidence.

Cork TD Mr Lynch quoted a 1998 Cork County Council letter that alleged waste material, generated in the production of steel, known as slag, had been removed from the site.

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Mr Lynch used parliamentary privilege to name two companies he believed had used the slag for state road construction projects.

The companies are Road Maintenance Services Ltd and Road Binders Ltd, both with offices in the Maynooth Business Campus, County Kildare and subsidiaries of Colas, a French road construction company.

Colas has since admitted using material from the Cork harbour site.

However, the firm has insisted the material was not contaminated.

A Colas spokesperson said the company’s subsidiary, RMS, purchased a quantity of "chip" from the site between 1999 and 2001.

The raw material for the glass-like chips was a by-product of the steel-making process.

The spokesman said the chips were processed in an on-site recycling facility, crushed, screened and washed before being sold to RMS.

The material was then used to surface-dress several road projects.

See: Halted Cork Clean-up Workers' Health Fears

(PR)