asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether his Department has received any proposals for the reopening of the Valentia slate quarries; and, if not, whether he will have the feasibility of the reopening of these quarries examined either by the industrial section of his Department or by the Industrial Development Authority and whether the application from an interested group for a trade loan under the Trade Loans (Guarantee) Acts for this purpose will be favourably considered.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Valentia Slate Quarries.
There are no proposals for the reopening of the Valentia slate quarries before my Department. The deposits were examined by experts in 1929, and again in 1933, and I am satisfied that a further survey at State expense would not add anything to the available information about them. All the information available will be placed at the disposal of any private interests who wish to explore the deposits. Any application from an interested group for a trade loan under the Trade Loans (Guarantee) Acts would have to be considered in the light of all the relevant circumstances.