A community in Co Tipperary living close to a disused toxic dump will voice their fears about the rate of cancers in their area when they meet officials of the Department of Marine and Natural Resources today.
People living near the 147-acre tailings pond at Gortmore, near the village of Silvermines, will be asked to give their views on a plan by the mining company, Mogul of Ireland, to cover the site with a layer of compost and soil to stop toxic dust blowing on to surrounding farm lands.
There is concern at the deaths of a number of cattle from lead poisoning since the company ceased mining operations in the area 1982. Locals say they are concerned for the health of the human population.
The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Dempsey, has said the company's plan to rehabilitate the pond is "conceptually acceptable".
This was rejected yesterday by the Gortmore Environment Action Group and its chairman, Mr Michael Leamy.He said the Department spent €460,000 on an expert report in May 2002 on proposals to cover the site. But now that report is being rubbished by the present proposal.
Mr Leamy said there was no scientific basis for going with the Mogul plan to cover the site with a mix of compost and soil. The most effective option would be to tackle the site in the manner proposed by Cardiff-based experts SRK, who were commissioned by the State to draw up a rehabilitation plan.
"There is major worry about cancer rates in the area, especially among the 30- to 50-year-old age groups," he said.
An inter-agency group set up by the Government tested the impact of lead on the population of the area. Its report found that Silvermines was a safe place to live, provided certain precautions were taken. However, Mr Leamy said the report failed to take into account the multiplying risks posed by the mix of other toxic chemicals used in the mining process.
North Tipperary Labour Senator Kathleen O'Meara has called for an immediate study into the level of cancer, asthma, diabetes and other illnesses which she said appeared to be occurring at a high rate in the Silvermines area.
She said a report by Prof Rory Finegan, commissioned by the Gortmore Environment Action Group, had shown that the mix of lead and arsenic in dust blowing from the tailings pond posed a very serious risk, particularly to children.