Vol. 496 No. 1
45 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the steps, if any, he has taken to ensure that the environment is not damaged as a result of recently opened mines, in particular the mine at Lisheen and Galmoy in the Laois and Offaly area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21975/98]
Under current legislation matters relating to environmental issues in the broad sense are primarily the responsibility of the planning authority and the Environmental Protection Agency, and I am precluded from including conditions in State mining facilities which relate to matters which are specifically the responsibility of the EPA (i.e. emissions to air and water, waste disposal and noise).
However, it is my practice to require that, before working commences on a State mining facility, planning permission and an integrated pollution control licence must be obtained. Furthermore, a State mining licence is liable to revocation for the non-compliance with those or any other statutory permissions. Because of the timing of its commencement, the Galmoy mine holds a water discharge licence and an air pollution licence from Kilkenny County Council rather than an integrated pollution control licence. In all future cases, the developers must apply to the EPA for an IPCL.
In addition, as mine closure and rehabilitation are two of the most serious and sensitive issues for a mine, the developers of both Galmoy, which opened in 1997, and Lisheen, which is still under construction, were required to take out and maintain closure bonds in the name of the Minister and the relevant county council to ensure that the necessary funds are available to safely close the mines and restore the sites at the end of their useful lives, or in the event of premature closure. These bonds are index linked to maintain their real value. In the case of Galmoy, £4.5 million is the sum and for Lisheen it is £9.5 million.
I am a statutory consultee in both the planning and the IPC licensing processes and my Department examined both mining proposals, using both internal and external expertise, and furnished the relevant authorities with detailed views and recommendations. I am satisfied that both operations are subject to rigorous environmental and planning conditions and are operating to the best international standards.
The whole process of the public examination of applications, including the environmental impact statement, the setting of conditions in PL and IPCL and provision of closure bond, together with the ongoing monitoring by the inspectorates under the Minerals Development Acts, Planning Acts and EPA Act, ensures that all relevant matters are taken into account and that appropriate environmental awareness and sensitivity are practised.
The Deputy will find copies of State mining facilities issued over the past 20 years or so in the Oireachtas Library. Should he have difficulty in relation to a particular aspect of a State mining facility, my Department will be pleased to assist him.
The Deputy will also be aware of the valuable contribution the mines at Galmoy and Lisheen make to the local economy. Galmoy mine provides 160 long-term jobs and Lisheen Mine expects to provide some 300 jobs when in full production. During the present construction phase some 500 jobs are being provided. Jobs in mining are generally paid at above national average wage rates. The contribution of these jobs to the local economy in what is otherwise, from an employment point of view, a depressed area, is significant. In addition, as in all industries, there is a significant spin-off in job creation at local, regional and national level.
Is the Minister satisfied that the integrated pollution control licence application procedure generally takes place after planning permission has been granted and that for that reason the planning process is limited in that it is precluded from dealing with issues that come under the remit of the IPC licence? Will he be making any recommendations in the light of that experience to his colleague in the Department of the Environment and Local Government, given his own brief in dealing with mining issues?
Does the Minister believe that the bonds which are put in place to carry out remedial work and restore an area would be sufficient to pay for the ongoing monitoring that would be needed, as quite often it is remedial work that may result in further work being required down the line, depending on possible effects of a mining operation in the long term? Is that built into the bond system? If not, who should foot the Bill?
In regard to the Lisheen mine, does the Minister have any responsibility in regard to the transportation of ores from where they are mined to a commercial port? If it is exclusively by road there is an inherent risk and damage to the road surface, but transportation by rail would be more satisfactory. Previous experience shows this can be done. Does the Minister have any influence in that area?
The question of transport and storage of ores is a matter for local government. There has been some public debate on that issue. I have no direct control over it.
In relation to the integrated pollution control licence and the fact that it comes after planning permission has been granted, it is often asked why we do not control the whole lot together. The main thing is that nothing happens until everything is available. A very careful and sensible approach is taken. The Deputy may not have had the opportunity to see either Galmoy or Lisheen and the controls which operate on them. They are now world leaders in mining. In relation to the proper, sensitive development of the mine and the security and safety elements, which are equally important, it is worth noting the attention that is being given in these cases.
That is not my point. My point relates to a mine being given planning permission and then being unable to obtain an IPC licence so that it becomes a white elephant, which is very unlikely.
It is not at all unlikely. That happens in relation to foreshore licences. We will not grant a foreshore licence unless we are satisfied that there is planning permission. It might seem unusual, looking at the generality of other operations, but it is not unusual in my Department. It is more usual that it would be the other way around, that the Department will not move until planning permission and everything else is in place. These matters are dealt with thoroughly. That may have happened only in the last few years but it is the position now.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
