asked the Minister for the Environment the methods his Department use to measure the dust fall-out and noise levels arising from mining at Tara Mines, County Meath; and the control, if any, his Department have on the frequency and timing of blasting at the mines.
Written Answers . - Tara Mines .
535.
: A number of the conditions attached to the planning permission for Tara Mines relate to the means for the controlling and monitoring of effluents, emissions, discharges, noise and vibration.
Responsibility for the enforcement of planning control, including compliance with conditions attached to a planning permission, is a matter for the planning authority concerned, in this case Meath County Council. I understand from the county council that Tara Mines, Ltd., maintain a comprehensive system of checks and monitoring and that they submit regular reports and have regular meetings with the council staff at which the operation of the mine, in relation to terms of the planning permission, is kept under review.
In relation specifically to dust fall-out and noise and vibration, the company have provided a network of gauges for monitoring ambient dust and stack emissions and have also three strategically located stations for monitoring noise and vibration continually on a 24-hour basis. Regular reports on the results of this monitoring are submitted to the council.