Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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39. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the restoration of the Avoca mines site, County Wicklow. [45221/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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A study commissioned by my Department and undertaken by CDM set out a plan for full remediation of the Avoca mines site, with costs identified in excess of €50 million. Given current pressures on the public finances, resources are not available to fund the full series of measures recommended in the report. My Department has, however, provided funding of €3m for a programme of essential works to make safe hazards arising from adits, shafts and unstable spoil heaps, and provision of further fencing and signage.

My Department has recently invited tenders for the provision of technical design, procurement and project management expertise and I expect to have a multi-disciplinary project team in place before the end of the year to assist the Department in identifying the works to be prioritised and to project manage all elements of the work to be carried out over the next three years. The team will be required, on appointment, to liaise and consult with relevant stakeholders throughout the duration of the project.