Council briefed on mining exploration

A period of public consultation will be put in place before the company conduction mineral exploration in West Cavan are issued with a mining licence members of Cavan County Council were told.

The fact was stated by Eibhlin Doyle, Head of Exploration & Mining Technical Division the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in a presentation to the elected representatives at the April monthly meeting of the authority.

Ms Doyle is the Department's expert on the exploration, mining, monitoring, promotion and regulation of the minerals industry and related policy matters for the sector. She has provided specialist advice on closed mine sites and in particular oversight on the remediation at Avoca and Silvermines.

The Department official oversees the regulation of the mineral industry in Ireland. She told the elected members that 6,000 exploration licenses had been issued since the 1940s. The issuing of licence is governed by the Mineral Development Act of 201, the latest in a series of regulations governing the sector.

The meeting was attended by the Cavan Mining Objection Group who are opposed to the exploration by BMEx Pty. Ltd in West Cavan. Councillors were told that since 1970 100 prospecting licences have been issued in Cavan.

Ms Doyle said that BMEx were exploring for zinc and copper, but also for gold and silver. She explained that in the event of a mineral discovery the company who held the exploration licence could apply for a mining licence. She said that this process was subject to a public consultation process.

For full debate and reaction see Wednesday's Anglo Celt.