asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will have the possibility of reopening the coal mines at Dromagh, Banteer, County Cork, examined.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Coal Mines.
The possibility of reopening the coal mines at Dromagh was investigated fully by the Geological Survey during the war years. It was concluded at the time that, owing to unfavourable geological conditions, the prospects of successful commercial development would be remote.
If, however, any proposals are forthcoming from private interests for the reopening of the mines I shall be prepared to facilitate them in every way possible.
Will the Minister state whether it was during the 1914-1918 War or the 1939-1945 World War that the examination was made? The reports available at the moment were made at a time when we were under the control of an alien Government. No examination has been carried out since the 1914-1918 War.
The matter was investigated during the last war and the conclusion was reached that the prospects of successful commercial development would be poor, due very largely to the fact that the coal seams are thin and irregular and faulty in a number of places. In some places, they peter out altogether. To anyone who is still interested in the possibility of development, I will give all the information we have and whatever assistance it is possible to give.
It should be the duty of the Government to be interested in the development of these mines.
The Government does not consider that these deposits are capable of being exploited commercially, unless at a price which would make the coal unpurchasable by anyone.
The only investigation up to the present has been on a very small scale.
It is a widely known fact that you cannot put coal where it is not. There is not a sufficient quantity of coal there to make it commercially exploitable.