asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that on the 13th March, 1948, Irish Mines at Sallysbridge, County Carlow, closed down their main pit at Sallysbridge and, as a result, had to dismiss 65 miners; that in the same month Rossmore Collieries dismissed 40 miners, Flemings' Coal Mines, Limited, dismissed over 20 miners, and the Doonane Mining Company dismissed 20 miners, and if he will state the circumstances which have brought about this state of affairs in view of the answer which he gave to a question on the 9th March, 1948, in which he stated that the production of Irish anthracite is limited mainly by the shortage of skilled labour.
Written Answers. - Dismissal of Coal Miners.
I understand that the position is generally as stated in the first part of the question. At the moment I am not aware of the circumstances which brought this about but I am having investigations made.