asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state why the Slieveardagh Collieries, County Tipperary, are being offered for sale.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Slieveardagh Collieries.
The Slieveardagh Collieries have been operated by Mianrai, Teoranta, and, as I am satisfied that they have been developed to the stage at which they can be transferred to private ownership, I have asked the company to offer them for sale.
Will the Minister say the stage to which they have been developed? Have they been developed to the stage of actual production of coal?
Yes.
If so, will the Minister give an estimate of the amount of coal produced at that particular colliery in the last 12 months?
It averaged between 300 and 400 tons a week. I could get the exact figure for the Deputy but I have not got it available now. The whole area has been explored and a great deal of information concerning the coal deposits of the area is available to potential purchasers.
Are we to take it that the price at which the colliery will be sold will be a price sufficient to cover whatever outlay has been incurred up to the moment or is the Minister allowing himself a discretion in this matter?
An element of discretion must be allowed. The production of coal during the emergency was undertaken by the company frequently without regard to economic considerations and some of the losses incurred could not be regarded as in the nature of capital expenditure which a new purchaser would be expected to shoulder.
When I refer to outlay I am not talking about expenditure on the production of coal as such; I am talking about expenditure which was incurred in the development of the mine, bringing it to its present state.
I should certainly hope the purchase price would cover the capital price.
That is what I mean.
Is it the policy of the Government to use the taxpayers' money for the purpose of developing the mineral resources of the country and then to hand them over to private individuals for profit-making purposes?
So far as the policy of the Government is concerned, it has always been in favour of the development of the mineral resources of the country by private enterprise.
Did the Minister indicate this when putting the legislation through the Dáil?
Yes. The intention of disposing of this company to private enterprise at a stage of its development was frequently referred to in the Dáil.
Will the Minister say what is the process in offering this mine for sale? Is it the company or is it the Minister that is making the offer and is it the company or is it the Minister that will decide whether any offer will be accepted?
The offer is being made by the company, which is the legal owner of the property. The company will, no doubt, consult me before deciding to accept any offer.
Can we have an assurance on that?
Yes.
That is a definite assurance?
That the company will consult me before deciding to accept an offer—a very definite assurance.
I understand the Minister undertakes to the Dáil that he will accept responsibility for the sale, ultimately?
For the sale and for the terms accepted.