Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2022
160. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has visited two locations (details supplied) and witnessed the destruction and damage caused at these locations following mining; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58779/22]
View answerOfficials from my Department visited the former mine sites at Silvermines on 30 September 2021 with contractors providing environmental monitoring services as part of a three-year programme that commenced in 2018. Department officials will again visit the sites in December 2022 to prepare a request for tenders for continued environmental monitoring of the sites. My Department, in co-operation with Tipperary County Council, has undertaken an extensive programme of remediation works at a number of former mining sites at Silvermines. Work has been substantially completed on 5 of the 6 sites with expenditure amounting to €11.19m. The Gortmore Tailings Management Facility was the largest site remediated at a cost of €6 million.
Officials from the Geoscience Regulation Office in my Department, under its monitoring, compliance and enforcement functions, regularly inspect active mine sites to ensure they are operating in accordance with the terms and conditions of their Licence or Lease. In respect of the tailings facility at Tara Mines in particular, monitoring of the facility rests with the EPA and I have no function in the matter.
