Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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344. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding funding (details supplied) that has been allocated; if some of this allocation could be spent on developing a tourist walkway at the mines; the contract details for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16332/14]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of and appreciate the tourism and amenity potential of the former Avoca mine site. This issue co-exists, however, with the public health and safety aspects, environmental conditions and industrial heritage preservation in the area. It is essential that an appropriate balance be struck in dealing with the various matters. In the first instance funding of €3 million is being made available to identify and undertake essential public health and safety works over the three year period 2014 to 2016. It is intended that the programme of works identified will include, inter alia, the making safe of hazards arising from adits, shafts, and unstable spoil heaps, and provision of further fencing and signage. These works will address public health and safety concerns and deal with certain environmental risks. While it is not possible to develop a tourist walkway at the Avoca mine site in the current remediation programme, work will be undertaken in a manner that allows for such an initiative to be integrated into future developments, if resources become available.