The Government yesterday came under fire over its failure to date to begin work on the rehabilitation of disused mining sites around Silvermines, Co Tipperary.
The criticism by Mr Eamonn De Stafort, spokesman for the Silvermines Environmental Action Group (SEAG) came ahead of a final report to be put before the Mid Western Health Board today on the progress of implementing the 39 recommendations of a June 2000 report into lead pollution in the Silvermines area.
In the final report of the Implementation Group for Silvermines (IGS), the health board's Director of Public Health, Dr Kevin Kelleher, says the group will not meet again as it feels it has gone as far as it can in implementing the 39 recommendations.
After almost two years of work, the IGS has implemented 36 of the 39 recommendations of the "Report of the Investigation into the presence and influence of lead in the Silvermines area". The three remaining recommendations relate to the implementation of rehabilitation plans for mine sites.
In his report, Dr Kelleher states: "It is important that the rehabilitation of the old mining sites in the Silvermines area is undertaken without undue delay."
A Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources spokeswoman said officials were studying a consultants' report.
