asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what sum is being provided from the Exchequer in the current financial year for minerals development.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mineral Development.
I would refer the Deputy to the provisions made in subheads L (1), L (2) and L (3) of the Estimate for my Department for the current financial year. The provision made in sub-head L (1) in respect of minerals exploration and development work at Avoca, County Wicklow, is £26,500. The Minister for Finance in his Budget statement has indicated that some expenditure, additional to that provided for in the Book of Estimates,is foreseen in connection with the work at Avoca.
In arriving at the provision which is made in sub-head W of the Estimate for my Department for technical assistance, account has been taken of the scheme of minerals exploration which is being undertaken as a technical assistance project for the geological survey, and about which I made an announcement earlier this year. It is contemplated that expenditure on this scheme in the current financial year may be of the order of £20,000.