Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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205. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update in relation to the Avoca remediation project; the projected funding that will be provided in view of Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50174/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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A feasibility study for the management and remediation of the Avoca Mining Site was completed in 2008.  This feasibility study costed two options for the long-term remediation of the mine site with capital costs of €58.5m and €46m respectively, and both having recurring annual operating costs of about €1million.  Under Government Decision No. S180/20/10/0354 of 21 July 2010, the Government decided to proceed with €3million in the most urgent health and safety works and to keep the rest of the Remediation plan under review.  To date, in excess of €5 million has been expended on remediation and monitoring costs at the site. The projected funding for the Avoca remediation project in 2023 is €450,000.  This funding will provide for ongoing monitoring, maintenance and health and safety works on the Avoca old mine sites.  In 2023, the Department also intends to begin reviewing the outstanding remediation plan from the 2008 feasibility study and undertake an update to reflect more recent technological methods and advances in mine site remediation and update projected remediation costs since the last costs were produced in 2008.