Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

199. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will supply the complete notification received in respect of the Sperrins gold mine; if he will make a statement on the notification in respect of water abstraction and discharge; and if he will make a statement on the need to request a transboundary consultation due to the River Finn SAC. [5225/25]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

200. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he intends to advertise the transboundary consultation on the proposed goldmine in the Sperrins area of outstanding natural beauty, County Tyrone. [5367/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.

I can confirm that I will arrange for the information requested to be forwarded directly to the Deputy.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (Directive 2011/92/EU), as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU), and the UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (the Espoo Convention) each set out the obligations of Member States/Parties to assess the environmental impact of certain activities or proposed development at an early stage of planning. They also lay down the general obligation of States to notify and consult other States on all major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse transboundary environmental impact.

My Department is responsible for ensuring that the planning system in Ireland is compliant with the State’s EU and International planning obligations, which includes the EIA Directive and Espoo Convention processes in the Irish planning system. Ensuring that the EIA Directive or Espoo Convention obligations of promoters or potential development applicants in another jurisdiction are adhered to, is a matter for the appropriate authorities in that jurisdiction, in accordance with their respective domestic legislation transposing such EIA Directive/ Espoo Convention obligations.

In managing the State’s participation in the Espoo Convention, my Department’s role involves processing transboundary EIA notifications received from other jurisdictions concerning proposed development that may have a transboundary environmental impact in this State. Given the broad range of activities covered by the Espoo Convention, on receipt of a transboundary notification, consultation is required with the relevant competent authorities in the State whose subject matter experts will determine whether or not Ireland should participate in transboundary consultation.

I can confirm that a transboundary EIA notification was received by my Department on Thursday 30 January 2025 from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in Northern Ireland. This notification concerns an application received by DfI for gold mining activities including surface level development such as a processing plant and associated ancillary works, at Greencastle, Co Tyrone.

I can confirm that my Department issued a preliminary response to DfI on Friday 7 February, requesting access to documents which outline what the potential significant transboundary environmental impacts from this proposed project are for this State. A response to this letter is awaited.

Once a response is received from DfI, consultation will take place with appropriate State authorities (i.e. relevant Government Departments and State Agencies) to determine if transboundary consultation is necessary. If the conclusion is that transboundary consultation is required, a public consultation will form part of that process. The standard timeline for such public consultations is usually six weeks from the date a notice is published in a national newspaper.

During such public consultations, members of the public are provided with access to all of the relevant documentation associated with the proposed development including the planning application and any environmental reports, and are provided with an opportunity to participate by making submissions to the competent authority concerned, which in this case would be the DfI in Northern Ireland.