Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the plans he has regarding the clean up of a site (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if and when the resources necessary to complete the clean up will be made available; if that amount will exceed the €10.6 million allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31764/08]

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding a site (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if the works being carried out are to schedule; the costs of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31742/08]

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the spending and work that will take place on the clean up of a site (details supplied) in County Tipperary in 2008, 2009 and 2010; the work that will be completed in that time; the procurement procedures being used for the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31765/08]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 256, 258 and 260 together.

As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 428 and 429 of 4th June 2008, and to Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 10 July 2008, Planning Permission was granted by North Tipperary County Council (NTCC) on 17th September 2007, for the rehabilitation work at the Gortmore Tailings Management Facility. A tender notice was advertised in the EU Journal on 21st January 2008, following which seven companies were short-listed and invited to submit a tender for the first phase construction work of the rehabilitation works. Tenders were received from all seven companies on 21st April 2008 and subsequently assessed by the consultants employed by NTCC to design and supervise the project. On 21st May 2008, the Department authorised NTCC to issue a letter of intention to accept the tender of a construction firm for the first phase of the remediation works at the Gortmore site, at Silvermines, subject to the contractor producing insurances, bond and tax clearance. These procurement procedures were in accordance with the latest guidelines issued by the Department of Finance for Government Departments and Local Authorities. These works commenced in July.

This complex project is being carried out on a phased basis and these initial works are planned to be completed in November 2008. The works planned for 2009 and 2010 at the Gortmore site include further capping and associated works as well as vegetation and upgrading of wetland areas. Further detailed planning and design work for Gortmore and the other sites involved in the project are still under active consideration.

The project managers for the project have terminated their involvement as project managers. An arrangement has been put in place to ensure project management continuity.

As regards cost, as indicated previously, the sum of €10.6m allocated by Government in June 2005 to remediate the former mining sites in the Silvermines area was on the basis of the earlier conceptual study. On the basis of the latest information, it is clear that the cost of remediation of all the sites will exceed the provision of €10.6m. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources expects to brief the Government on the revised costs of the project in the near future and on its implications for future annual funding for the project.