Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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110. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the progress on environmental issues at Tailings Pond, the Silvermines, County Tipperary; if a compulsory purchase order has been completed for the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41235/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department in co-operation with Tipperary County Council has undertaken an extensive programme of remediation works at a number of former mining sites at Silvermines.  The Department continues to fund an ongoing programme of environmental monitoring at Silvermines.

Work has been substantially completed on 5 of the 6 sites with expenditure amounting to €11.19m. The Gortmore Tailings Management Facility was the largest site remediated at a cost of €6 million. The site is currently in private ownership; discussions to date to purchase the land have been unsuccessful.

However, I will shortly be publishing a draft policy statement for consultation on mineral exploration and mining. This will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to inform the development of policy in this area, including the development of a road map for dealing with legacy mines which will address the role and responsibilities of both State and private stakeholders.