Minister paid visit to Dromgoosat day after collapse

The Minister of State for Rural Affairs and Natural Resources, Seán Kyne, visited the collapsed disused underground gypsum mine at Drumgoosat the day after the appearance of the sinkhole.

The Minister's visit was revealed after collapse of the mine that disrupted the road network around Kingscourt was the subject of an answer to a parliamentary question yesterday.

Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment what supports had been offered and to make a statement on the Magheracloone matter.
In a reply Minster Kyne said investigation team engaged by the company, incorporating mining engineers from the UK, arrived at the site to assess the situation and determine the scale and cause of the subsidence and the risk of further events occurring in the area.

He said he had visited the disused underground gypsum mine at Drumgoosat and the area was being monitored: “My Department’s senior geologists and I visited the site on Tuesday 25th September. Since then, my officials have been liaising with the company and the other regulatory authorities, Monaghan County Council and the Environmental Protection Agency, on an ongoing basis and have continued to monitor the situation closely,” Minister for State Kyne replied to Deputy Smyth's question.