Renewed water contamination concerns in East Galway

Galway TD Ulick Burke and North-West MEP Jim Higgins have requested a meeting with the European Commissioner to put forward submissions regarding Tynagh Mine in East Galway, amid renewed concerns of water contamination.

A report released earlier this year by the EPA showed levels of arsenic at Tynagh to be 1,600 higher than recommended safety limits. It also acknowledged that further chemicals at the site could also seep into groundwater.
It is understood that chemicals such as arsenic, cyanide and cadmium have been detected in the water supply of homes downstream from the former mine in recent weeks and renewed calls have been made for the Government to take responsibility for the site.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, Ulick Burke said he and Jim Higgins had been banging their heads against a brick wall when they called for Ministers John Gormley and Eamon Ryan to take responsibility for the site.
They have now sought to make a presentation to the European Commissioner later this month regarding the controversial issue of ownership of the mines. They are seeking to put pressure on Ministers Gormley and Ryan to take responsibility for the site at Tynagh and to carry out works to ensure dangerous toxins cannot get into the local water supply.
“I feel we have been banging our heads against a brick wall and now we have to get Europe to track them down and get them to be fair to the community in the interest of health and safety. We will hope to meet with the commissioner and outline the difficulties at Tynagh and highlight the neglect it has received from Government,” Deputy Burke stated.
The Galway deputy said that he had addressed the matter with Minister Gormley following the release of the EPA report but stated that he “took no responsibility for it”. He next approached Minister Eamon Ryan who has responsibility for mines.
“He was more receptive and he said we’ll try to do something with it. This went on from when the report was released. They said they would hold a meeting between the two departments but the only thing they could say was that they can’t find a time to meet,” he added.
Deputy Burke said it is a serious issue and one that he is not prepared to let go which is why he has decided to take it up at European level.
“Unless the two departments come together and take responsibility and remediate these mines in some way, it will continue to be a health and safety problem and to be an eyesore. Because of the geology of the area and the blasting, there has been huge contamination underground and it has probably leaked out to the surrounding water and into the Shannon. It’s a very serious situation and no-one is taking responsibility for it,” he concluded.