Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
71. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has, or intends to, communicate with his Northern Ireland counterpart in relation to the proposed gold mine in the Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone, or whether there has been any Departmental discussions related to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2687/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra72. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department made a submission to the Tyrone gold mine plans; and if the Department had any concerns about its development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2688/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra73. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there has been any analysis of transboundary environmental impacts for the Republic of Ireland from the proposed gold mine in the Sperrin Mountains in Tyrone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2689/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra74. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an environmental impact assessment has been conducted for special areas of conservation in the Republic of Ireland in response to the proposed gold mine in County Tyrone in the Sperrins area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2690/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 71 to 74, inclusive, together.
With regard to the public inquiry process (the Curraghinalt Project (Dalradian Gold) conjoined Public Inquiries) which is currently adjourned until 26 March 2025 on technical grounds in Northern Ireland in respect of a proposed gold mine in County Tyrone, my Department has made no submission in relation to the proposed development, nor has it been in formal correspondence with its Northern Ireland counterpart in that regard, and it would be inappropriate for me as Minister to make any comment in relation to same.
I understand that a request for suspension by the Department of Infrastructure was acceded to by the Northern Ireland Planning Appeals Commission and the Commission confirmed that an update will be provided in due course.
Planning and development matters fall within the remit of the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage which has the responsibility for transboundary effects notifications pursuant to the EU Espoo Convention, in that once it receives relevant notifications from a counterpart origin state of an activity proposed in a planning application likely to have significant effects on the environment of neighbouring states, it in turn notifies relevant stakeholders to allow for a public consultation process to be undertaken.
I understand that while Donegal County Council was notified by the Department of Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and commenced a transboundary public consultation which closed on 6 January 2025, it emerged at the two days of the Northern Ireland public inquiry hearings held prior to suspension, that there had been a failure to notify the Irish Government and that inadequate time had been given to Donegal County Council to respond after a transboundary issue was identified.
Any future notifications which may issue from the Northern Ireland Department of Infrastructure with respect to the proposed project or indeed any planning application which it may notify which relates to transboundary issues under the Convention would in the first instance be a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
