Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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54. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns of concerned communities regarding the limitations of the consultation being carried out by his Department on the subject of mining; and if he will proactively engage and listen to the representative groups from those concerned communities in which mining licences are currently being considered. [49779/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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On 30 July 2021 my Department published a Draft Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining and associated Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report and Appropriate Assessment Natura Impact Statement for public consultation. The deadline for making submissions is 15 October 2021.  Notices to highlight the public consultation were placed online and where possible (if public contact details were available), direct emails or messages were sent to stakeholders, including community groups.  A newspaper notice to highlight the consultation was also placed in every regional newspaper and a national newspaper in early September.

As part of the consultation process, and with consideration of the public health guidelines at the time, the Department organised a number of online information sessions for the week of 20 September 2021.  Some community groups participated in these sessions.

An online stakeholder townhall event was organised for 6 October 2021 with the objective of giving different stakeholders an opportunity to express their view and have an open discussion on the draft policy statement and the Irish mineral exploration and mining sector.  A number of presenters, including representatives from eNGOs and community groups, were invited by the Department to present at this townhall. 

The above measures were taken to highlight the consultation and to assist people to make a submission. All stakeholders still have an opportunity to give their views on the draft Policy Statement by making a submission before 15 October 2021 and I would encourage people to do so.