asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate the areas in which mining operations are at present being carried out, the approximate dates of commencement of such operations, and the name of the group undertaking the operations in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mining Operations.
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I shall have circulated with the Official Report. In the case of State leases the date of the lease is indicated; in the case of private leases, however, I am unable to say when the lessees commenced operations.
The following is the tabular statement:—
(1) The following concerns are at present engaged in mining operations in the areas indicated under State Mining Leases granted on the dates specified:—
|
Name |
Area |
Dates |
|
St. Patrick's Copper Mines, Ltd. |
Avoca, County Wicklow |
1st October, 1955. |
|
Gypsum Industries, Ltd. |
Kingscourt, County Cavan |
1st June, 1952, and 1st November, 1956. |
|
Weatherwell, Ltd. |
Drumgill, County Cavan |
1st July, 1942. |
|
Ballingarry Collieries, Ltd. |
Thurles, County Tipperary |
2nd February, 1953. |
|
Rossmore Collieries, Ltd. |
Rossmore, County Carlow |
24th January, 1949, 24th January, 1955. |
|
M. J. Noone & Co. |
Gubbarudda, County Sligo |
1st April, 1944, 1st April, 1947, and 1st December, 1949. |
|
Flynn & Lehany Coal Mines, Ltd. |
Arigna, County Leitrim |
22nd May, 1939. |
|
Flemings Coal Mines, Ltd. |
Athy, County Kildare |
1st March, 1935, and 14th November, 1940. |
|
Flemings Fireclays, Ltd. |
Athy, County Kildare |
1st March, 1935. |
(2) Mining operations over privately-owned minerals are carried on by the following concerns in the areas mentioned:—
|
Name |
Area |
|
Benbulben Barytes, Ltd. |
Benbulben, County Sligo. |
|
Castlecomer Collieries, Ltd. |
Castlecomer, County Kilkenny. |
|
*Arigna Collieries, Ltd. |
Arigna, County Leitrim. |
|
Lynn's Sligo Coal Mining, Ltd. |
Ballyfarnam, County Roscommon. |
* Arigna Collieries Ltd. also hold a State Mining Lease dated 1st September, 1946 over an area near their private holding.
Some small-scale and periodic mining operations are also carried on under State mining permissions and on mineral deposits in private ownership.