Clare County Council has received tenders from specialist consultants to see if asbestos has been buried at sites in West Clare where the material has been discovered.
The hazardous material was found dumped at six separate sites near Kilkee, as well as three others in the Kilrush area, and it's believed it had originated from Council water mains works carried out over a number of years.
The asbestos pipes have largely been removed from the sites in question, and a contractor will now be appointed to determine if any asbestos has contaminated the soil.
A retired county manager and county engineer, both from outside of Clare, are leading the investigation.
The timeline and costs associated with the probe has yet to be determined and will be guided on the outcome of the investigations.
