Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are ongoing issues on different sites within the Silvermines complex. I know that officials from Tipperary County Council and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, are investigating unexplained cattle deaths. However, I do not want to cause alarm because they may not be related to the contamination. They could be related to many things such as paint or batteries or whatever else may have been dumped. It is one of the most serious issues that has been raised. There are different sites, including the Gortmore and Magcobar mine sites. There are ongoing plans to undertake a hydroelectric project on the Magcobar site. Remediation work has been carried out at Gortmore at a cost of about €6 million. The facility is over 60 ha in size and a permanent disposal site for tailings. Remediation work by the Department has taken place to a very high standard. Previous remediation work is being monitored. There have been a number of horses grazing on the land since it is privately owned. While concern has been expressed about whether they are causing damage, I have been assured that they are not, but the matter is being constantly monitored by my Department. There are ongoing investigations by the local authority and the Department and monitoring by the EPA of the entire complex to ensure there is full and final remediation. The last remaining element of the project at Gortmore involves the Garryard tailing site. It represents a distinct, separate phase which is not critical to the overall success of the work completed to date. This part of the project is estimated to cost in the region of €10 million.