asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) what, briefly, was the report of Professor Ritson on the Copper coalfield near Ballingarry village, County Tipperary; (b) who employed Professor Ritson to make the survey and report; (c) whether a sum of money had been allotted to Mianraí Teo., for the development of the basin, and, if so, what sum, and how much there of has been expended to date, and with what results, and (d) what are the prospects now of the development of the basin on a commercial basis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Report on Ballingarry Coalfield.
Professor Ritson was employed by Mianraí Teoranta to make a survey of the coalfield to which the Deputy refers. His report was to the effect that the development of the Copper area represented a fair mining risk. Copies of the report were furnished to me by Mianraí Teoranta and the Government decided that funds should be provided for the development of the Copper area out of the sum of £50,000 authorised by the Minerals Company Act, 1947, to be spent on the development and working of the Slievardagh coalfield. The sum which will be available for development in the Copper area will be the difference between the total of £50,000 authorised by the Act and the expenditure incurred to date in other parts of the Slievardagh coalfield. I am not in a position at present to say what this sum will be or to indicate the actual amount expended to date in the Copper area. It is too early to form any conclusion on the result of the work carried out so far.