The Government has decided to commit €10.6 million for the full rehabilitation of a toxic mining waste site in Silvermines, Co Tipperary. The development has been welcomed by the local community.
Funding has been allocated for the entire rehabilitation of the area, including the Gortmore tailings pond facility, the Garryard tailings facility and the old Macgobar mining site, altogether encompassing 2,300 hectares.
Local communities have been affected by toxic dust blows that have contaminated surrounding areas at intervals over the past 20 years. It is hoped a concerted rehabilitation plan will include the removal and isolation of hazardous wastes.
Mining shafts and danger areas also need to be made safe.
The process will start next month, and a four-year time frame is envisaged.
North Tipperary County Council has been asked to undertake the remediation work, with funding and accountability for the project the responsibility of the Minister for Natural Resources.
The Minister, Noel Dempsey, made the announcement while on a visit to north Tipperary yesterday.
He said the department had exhausted every other avenue open to it to rehabilitate the site, including pursuing the owners, the Mogul mining company.
He confirmed the department would still pursue the company through the courts, but remained sceptical about recouping any costs from what he described as "basically a shell company".
He said the company had no funds to assist the department with any works, and the taxpayer would be footing the bill.
"My intention is to ensure that the state of this area is made acceptable to all the local residents; that dust generation and any possible contamination of streams and rivers by dissolved and suspended metals is prevented and to restore the area to sustainable land uses," said Mr Dempsey.
The Minister also met local TDs Marie Hoctor and Michael Smith, local Fianna Fáil councillors and representatives of the local community group which has been campaigning for action on the site.
"I acknowledge the patience of the local community in this matter.
"The problems of the area and the concerns expressed by the residents are long-standing, but I hope that the prospect of a locally-devised solution to the problem will spur partnership between the local residents and the county council who will undertake the remedial works," Mr Dempsey said.
The chairman of the Gortmore Environmental Action Group, Michael Leamy, said the announcement was "great news".
However, he said the group still had some concerns regarding the project.
"What we are asking for is that the project is bonded so that if there was an environmental problem somewhere down the line the Government would take responsibility for the clean-up."