Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if it is intended to carry out further remedial works at the old Silvermines site in County Tipperary; if the €10.6 million provided by the previous Government is still available for this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20606/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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By decision dated 28 June 2005 the then Government agreed that the State would undertake rehabilitation of the former mine sites at Silvermines County Tipperary, and in 2008 the Minister advised Government of the updated cost estimate of €24 million, which would be incurred over a number of years. By end 2011, expenditure on the project will have amounted to approximately €11.3m.

In the context of decisions in Budget 2011, which provided for an overall reduction of nearly €49 million in the Department's capital provision for 2011, funding for Silvermines has reduced and in consequence necessitates a rephrasing of previously anticipated project elements, particularly the Garryard element of the project, which amongst other things would, once started, have to be brought to completion as a single phase whereby guaranteed financing of the entirety of the works would be necessary. Officials of My Department will continue to engage with Tipperary North County Council, the State's agent for the project, to ensure the protection of the investment already made, the bringing of conclusion of current elements and the long term approach to the project.