asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state when it will be possible to revive the national mineral survey that was put in abeyance by the previous Government.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Mineral Survey.
It is assumed that the question refers to the programme of minerals exploration for which funds were provided in the Minerals Company Act, 1947. I have arranged to meet the board of Mianraí, Teoranta, in the near future, when the question of extended exploration by the company will be considered.
Does the Minister propose to provide facilities for the exploitation of the lead and spelter deposit in Maam valley, about which preliminary work, I think, has been partially done?
As the Deputy knows, the activities of this company were considerably curtailed under the previous régime and what I am proposing to do is to examine the practicability and the desirability of extending them.
The Minister is aware that there was more mineral exploration done in the last three years than in the previous 30.