Liz McManus TD, Labour's spokesperson on Natural Resources has received a response from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in relation to Gold Mining in Mayo. Liz McManus took the issue up with the Dept in response to a request from Labour's Westport Councillor Keith Martin.
In a recent Parliamentary Question Deputy McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position "regarding plans to open a tourism gold mine near Louisburgh, County Mayo and asked also if he would address fears that the plans cover an area that is a designated area for special conservation and that the tourism mine may be converted into a full scale mining operation."
In response, Minister of State Sean Power TD, confirmed that an application "for prospecting licences for gold and silver in respect of a number of areas in north Mayo was received in 2007. A prospecting licence entitles the holder to explore the designated areas for mineral deposits and is under consideration.
"Any application to mine would require a State Mining Facility from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, which would be subject to a public consultation process. Mining would also require planning permission from the local authority, which involves Environmental Impact Assessment. An Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Licence would also be required from the Environmental Protection Agency" concluded Minister of State Power.
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