asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what steps, if any, the Department is taking to have the Firoda-Castlecomer colliery put in working condition, and whether the Department was approached by interested people in the district to give some assistance to the opening up of the collieries in that district, and with what result; also whether the Department was approached as to the sanction of a loan for the development of the Castlecomer-Doonane colliery, and whether any steps have been taken to have this matter settled up so as to give relief to unemployment in the district in the immediate future.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - THE CASTLECOMER COLLIERIES.
Representations have been received from the locality on the subject of the development of coal deposits in the Firoda-Castlecomer district. A preliminary inspection was made and it was then explained that I have no powers to put collieries into working conditions nor any funds for that purpose or for borings.
An application under the Trade Loans (Guarantee) Acts has been recently received in regard to the Doonane Colliery and is at present under consideration. It will be necessary before a decision is reached to have an investigation made by an expert from my Department. This inspection will take place, it is hoped, next week on a date which will be communicated to the parties concerned.