Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I remember this arising when I was in this job ten or 12 years ago. It became a significant issue in that a survey at the time showed very serious levels of poisoning and pollution from historic legacy mining in the area. If I recall correctly, the Avoca River had very high levels of cadmium, arsenic and other pollutants associated with mine sites. It was discovered that the mine shafts and other mine areas were dangerously exposed to the public. Therefore, there was genuine concern over public access to quite dangerous mine facilities. There was significant expenditure to fence off the area and on ongoing measures to restore the water quality in the Avoca River. When I became Minister again, I found it remarkable that we are spending €900,000, or effectively €1 million, making the mine safe in 2020. This just shows the extent of legacy issues when mining sites are left. The mining was primarily in the 19th century. Based on memory, I believe silver was mined. The mines were revived in the 1940s or 1950s. Again, I am working from memory. The mines were abandoned in more recent years but the legacy issues, particularly water pollution in the Avoca River, are very significant.