asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has approved of the proposal to grant to a Canadian firm a prospecting licence for mineral development in the Skibbereen-Ballydehob-Crookhaven districts and, if so, whether he has received an assurance from the company that exploratory work will commence at an early date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Cork Minerals.
I have given a conditional undertaking to grant prospecting facilities under the Minerals Development Act, 1940, to a company which proposes to undertake minerals exploration in the area referred to. I have asked the interests concerned to use their best endeavours to start exploratory work as soon as possible.
I think that is not a complete answer to my question. As the Minister is aware, I have impressed on him the desirability that whatever company got the option of mining in the district, the Minister should get a definite assurance that work would be commenced within a specified period. We did get that assurance and it was adhered to in the case of the Can-Erin Company which is at present operating at Allihies, and I can see no reason why the Minister cannot get the same assurance from whatever company has got this option in the Ballydehob district.
May I remind the Deputy that for the first time in his life I have now provided facilities for a mining company to operate in the area of Skibbereen and Allihies? That is substantial progress. I can understand the Deputy's desire that other projects in West Cork should be proceeded with as soon as possible. I appreciate that desire, and as far as I am concerned I have urged the company to which this licence has been issued, to commence work in these areas as soon as possible. I have no doubt that they themselves will be most anxious to do that. I cannot at this stage give the date on which they will start.
I understand that the company which has got an option in the Ballydehob district has got other options in this country, and that there is a likelihood that work may not commence, say, within the next 12 months——
That is a separate question.
——and that is most undesirable, in view of the fact that there was such competition for the mining right in this district.
The Deputy should not make the mistake of becoming avaricious over those mining projects. This matter is being dealt with in a way that best serves the national interest.
Seeing that we got very little in the line of industrial development from successive Governments——
Deputy Murphy is making three speeches.
Mr. Lemass
Does the prospecting licence issued in this case——
I think I am in order in asking a further supplementary question on this most important matter——
Major de Valera
The Deputy would be more effective if he voted as he talked.
If the Deputy will ask a question, I will allow him to do so.
I will ask this question: We have got little consideration from successive Governments in the line of industrial development in West Cork, and seeing that these minerals are now available for development, surely the least we can expect from the Minister is a specific date as to when the work is likely to commence, as we had in the case of Allihies.
(Interruptions.)
May I answer that question, first? The work started in Allihies because of successful negotiations which I concluded with the company——
And I appreciate very much the Minister's help in the matter.
——and these matters will be equally successful and the Deputy will have an opportunity of looking at the mines with pride in due course.
Hedging!
Order!
Mr. Lemass
Does the prospecting licence issued in this case contain a condition as to when the work will start?
It must start within a particular period, as otherwise the licence is invalid.
Is the Tánaiste aware that copper mining was carried on at Allihies so recently as 1926, and does he suggest that Deputy Murphy is less than 36 years of age?
Is the Minister aware that while Deputy Lemass was in office, mining operations at Allihies were never heard of?
Order!