Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has allocated resources for the necessary protection of groundwater or groundwater bodies used for the abstraction of drinking water in zones capable of being affected by discharge of arsenic, lead and other heavy metals arising from the site of the former Tynagh mines; if so, the protection measures for which resources have been allocated through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15255/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Statutory responsibility for the monitoring, management, protection and improvement of water quality, including groundwater, is assigned to local authorities, acting under the general supervision of the EPA, and to the EPA in the context of its licensing functions. Pollution at former mining sites is addressed in the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006, which provides, inter alia, that a local authority may be appointed by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources as agent of the Minister to prepare a mine rehabilitation plan, revise a mine rehabilitation plan, and/or carry out a mine rehabilitation plan.