Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers
agreement, I am content that Ofcom consultations are not causing undue delay in the processing of
planning applications.
Goldmine at Cavanacaw, Omagh
Mr Hussey asked the Minister of the Environment why the Planning Service permitted the company
to remove in excess of 8,000 truckloads of rock from the goldmine at Cavanacaw, Omagh, by the
operator’s own admission, without any assurance that there remained a sufficient amount of rock to
restore the site to its original condition.
(AQW 11307/11-15)
Mr Attwood: The Ombudsman has reported that the Department allowed the operator to remove
huge volumes of rock from the site without any reassurance that there remained sufficient rock to
backfill the trench. This, in his judgement, represented maladministration. My Department accepts this
conclusion. I agree with the conclusion.
In recently granting planning permission for a revised closure plan, the Department informs me that it
is satisfied that following full restoration of the site a surplus of 347826 cubic metres of rock would
remain. This would allow for a controlled removal of surplus rock from the site in accordance with
conditions attached to the planning permission.
Enniskillen Castle Complex as a Visitor Attraction
Mr Flanagan asked the Minister of the Environment for his assessment of the attractiveness of
the Enniskillen Castle complex as a visitor attraction for people from the nationalist or republican
community, given that a St George’s flag flies from the building every day of the year.
(AQW 11345/11-15)
Mr Attwood: I understand that my predecessor as Environment Minister, Edwin Poots, wrote to you on
23 November 2010 and explained in detail the approach to the history of Enniskillen Castle and the
regiments stationed there which is adopted in the displays at the two museums housed in the Castle.
He explained the history of the flying of the flag depicting the Cross of St George. Minister Poots invited
you to ask Fermanagh District Council to advise my Department as to its views on the flying of the
Cross of St George. No further information was received.
The flying of St George’s flag from the Watergate at Enniskillen is a tradition associated with the previous
use of the complex, which pre-dates current equality screening protocols. My Department will undertake
an equality screening of this practice under the Equality Scheme for the Department of the Environment
drawn up in accordance with Section 75 and Schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. I believe
this is a proper response, given the differing views around the display and flying of flags. That said, it is
important that each of us recognise the different, common and emerging views of our history and
experience, that I will look at this issue in this light and await the outcome of the review detailed above.
Protection Agency’s ‘Radon in Dwellings in Northern Ireland: 2009 Review’
Mr Agnew asked the Minister of the Environment, in light of the Health Protection Agency’s ‘Radon
in Dwellings in Northern Ireland: 2009 Review’ which states that more than 30 percent of homes
around Belcoo are at actionable level, as are 10-30 percent of homes in the areas around Garrison
and Derrygonnelly, to detail (i) what steps he has taken to determine the levels of naturally occurring
radioactive materials in the Bundoran and Benbulben shale; (ii) what tests were carried out, by whom
and on what material; (iii) from where exactly the material was taken; (iv) on what dates the samples
were taken and tested; (v) where they were tested; (vi) what were the results; and (vii) if testing has not
been carried out, what action he intends to take given that the area licenced for unconventional gas
exploration is a radon affected area and that radon decays from radium, uranium and thorium.
(AQW 11363/11-15)
Mr Attwood: To date no tests have been carried out by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on the
levels of naturally occurring radioactive material in the Bundoran and Benbulben shale.
WA 510