Knocknacran-Drumgossat Residents Forum Update – 21 Feb 2019

 

The second meeting of the Residents Forum took place on 19 Feb 2019 in Carrickmacross Civic

Offices. Representatives from the local Residents Group, Monaghan County Council officials and

elected members, Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Environmental

Protection Agency and Gyproc (Ireland) Ltd. were in attendance. The meeting was chaired by Cllr.

Colm Carthy.

 

Actions from the previous meeting were confirmed:

 

• Gyproc (Ireland) Ltd. distributed maps to residents detailing the extent of the mine at

Drumgossat.

• Pat McEneaney was appointed Community Liaison Office by the company.
• Monaghan County Council had sought funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism

and Sport to restore roads in the area

• Copies of a historical report on the mine were issued to residents

 

Gyproc (Ireland) Ltd gave details on the ongoing drilling programme which will be completed next

week. 23 holes will have been drilled and laser and sonar scanning will be undertaken in early March

to ascertain the condition of the underground mine workings in the area of the LP4900 road.

Following this Gyproc’s Consultants, SRK, will undertake modelling and prepare a report by 29 March

that will be reviewed by the Department and its consultants, Wardell Armstrong. The next technical

meeting is scheduled for 9 April 2019.

 

Gyproc has committed to revise the maps they have published to incorporate houses along the

LT49012/3 and will issue the detailed maps of the mine workings to residents on 5 April.

Gyproc appointed Pat McEneaney as their community liaison officer and he met with over 70

residents in Tracey’s Hotel on 11 Feb. It was agreed to invite the Chairperson and Secretary of this

wider group of residents to the next meeting.

 

Monaghan County Council has requested funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism and

Sport to restore roads in the vicinity of the mine. The Council was mandated by elected members at

the meeting to contact the DTAS Roads Inspector and write to Ministers Humphreys and Canney

seeking funding for road restoration. The residents sought the Council to widen the road to

accommodate two-way traffic on the local diversion route between Corrybracken Cross and

Drumgossat School. The Council will investigate the possibility of carrying out work along this road

and upgrade signage along the diversion route.

 

The Council confirmed that no decision can be made on the reopening of the LP4900 until after the

SRK report is completed and verified by DCCAE in April.

 

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment issued a redacted copy of the

2002 SRK Report and a State Mining Lease map to the residents group. The Environmental

Protection Agency advised the residents that Gyproc (Ireland) Ltd. was required to apply for a new

discharge licence and pre-application discussions would commence next week.

 

Gyproc’s Community Liaison Officer gave details of his work over the past few weeks and invited

individuals with concerns or issues to contact him.

 

The next meeting of the Residents Forum is scheduled for 9 April 2019