Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
166. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the work carried out to date on the Avoca mines remediation project plan; the timeline for future proposals; the value of funding allocated for the purposes of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23262/20]
View answer167. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the membership of the project board for the Avoca mines remediation project; the way in which the body is constituted; the reporting requirements of the body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23263/20]
View answer175. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the details of the work done to date on the Avoca mines remediation project plan; the future proposals and timeline for same; the value of funding allocated for the purposes of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23557/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 167 and 175 together.
The Avoca mine site in Co. Wicklow was worked intermittently for approximately 250 years to extract copper and other metals, which were processed on site. The mine closed in 1982 but mineral extraction has left a number of health and safety issues as well as an environmental legacy.
A feasibility study undertaken by the Department in 2008 developed integrated rehabilitation and management plans for the site that address human and ecological concerns, safety and physical hazards, heritage, future uses and long-term site monitoring and management. The overall estimated cost for the works included in the 2008 study was over €50m with works envisaged to take place on a phased basis.
Since the publication of the feasibility study, my Department has prioritised recommendations that addressed the most critical safety, human health and environmental concerns at the site. To date, in excess of €5 million has been expended on remediation and monitoring costs at the site. Works undertaken include: the capping of open shafts; addressing the stability of the Dublin Rosslare railway line which passes through the site; regrading and capping the mine waste area at Tigroney West and constructing surface drains to divert the surface flow around or across the capped area into the river and vegetating the capped surface. A number of actions were also undertaken to preserve mining heritage features on the site, notably the complete rehabilitation of a pair of historic ore bins.
As well as the health and safety work, environmental monitoring of the site is undertaken to ensure no significant change in conditions occurs without detection. An annual inspection of an underground tunnel, the 850 Adit, raised safety concerns about a section of the tunnel which passes under a local residential road. This necessitated emergency repairs to the Adit between January and June 2020 to ensure its stability and expenditure associated with this highly specialised work will be in excess of €900,000.
The project is managed by a Project Board which comprises staff from my Department including Technical, Legal and Administrative staff. In relation to the long term plans for the site, work is now underway to begin a re-evaluation of the 2008 feasibility study and the approach to managing and restoring the site. The composition of the Project Board is being reviewed as part of this overall reappraisal.
