178. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the work ongoing by his Department in the tailings pond in the Silvermines, County Tipperary; the cost of these works and the timelines for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56272/26]

My Department manages the tailings management facility (TMF) at Gortmore, Silvermines, County Tipperary and, together with Tipperary County Council, undertakes monitoring, maintenance and remediation works there as part of the Historic Mines Rehabilitation Programme.

My Department is undertaking work to assess the stability at Gortmore TMF, to understand hazards at the site and to reduce risks accordingly. Site investigation works started on 15 June 2026 and are due to be completed by the end of July 2026. These consist of surveying, drilling boreholes, doing geotechnical tests on the ground and collecting samples for analysis. After the site investigation, the results will be used to carry out computer-based stability modelling on the tailings management facility. In early 2027, stability modelling results will inform an action plan to mitigate any identified risks.

The site investigation work is being carried out on behalf of my Department by MKO Environmental Consultants. The profiled cost for the current works at Gortmore TMF is € 274,905. The stability modelling work is subject to a procurement process and is expected to be awarded to a service provider in Autumn 2026.