asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if an application had been received by his Department some time ago to have an expert geological survey of the townlands of Beaugh, Garvagh, Tullynascreena, Greaghnafarna, in the County Leitrim, and Boleymount, Lavally, Carranagulty, and Cartrondargang, County Sligo; and also if a promise was made in December, 1926, that an expert would be sent; if the expert has been sent, and, if so, what the result of his survey was, and whether his report is available.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - GEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN LEITRIM AND SLIGO.
My Department received correspondence on this subject late in 1926, and in December of that year; the correspondent was informed that the Geological Mapping of the Connaught coal deposits was under revision by the Geological Survey who were working as a beginning on the known deposits of the Arigna Coalfield and had in view the re-examination of the whole district, including the townlands mentioned, and that it would be some time before the particular locality could be re-examined. This revision has not yet been completed. The correspondent was informed further that the formations shown on the original survey maps of the area in question lie beneath the productive coal measures.
Can the Minister say if the Committee of Inquiry recently set up by this House had this matter placed before them, and will the consideration of it be so prolonged that it will not be likely to lead to anything definite that would be of practical use by way of dealing with the question of unemployment that has been so seriously entertained in this House?
I have no information that the matter was before the Committee on Unemployment. I do not consider it would be a useful way to employ the unemployed by getting them to look for what is not there.