asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that grave dissatisfaction exists amongst the colliery workers at Slievardagh, County Tipperary, because of their failure to obtain an assurance of the continuance of mining operations in that area, despite such an assurance being asked for on their behalf by their union; and whether, in view of the fact that there is a danger that these men will be forced to emigrate, he will now indicate what are the prospects of mining operations being continued in this area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Slievardagh Collieries.
On the 10th February, 1948, the Board of Mianraí Teoranta notified the Minister for Industry and Commerce that they had decided to discontinue the production of coal in the mines at Slievardagh, which were being worked for the past few years, because the production was uneconomic and, at the same time, they intimated that the operations in this mine would cease in about three months, when coal left in pillars, etc., had been extracted. Proposals for working an alternative area in the coalfield were submitted by Mianraí Teoranta and these proposals are under consideration, but I am not at present in a position to make any statement on the matter. I hope to be able to make an announcement on the subject in the near future.