asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if in recent years a mineral survey has been made of South Kerry areas; if so, in what districts; and what were the results.
14.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - South Kerry Mineral Survey.
13.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if a mining survey has been made of the Kilgarvan-Kenmare districts where copper was mined many years ago, the name of the company which carried out the survey, the nature of the report if received in his Department, and the prospects of these mines being reopened.
I propose, with the permission of An Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
A fresh survey of all the principal mineral localities of South Kerry (south of a line from Killorglin to Killarney) has been made in recent years by the Geological Survey Office. The areas surveyed included Ross Island, Muckross, Valentia Island, and Coad area near Caherdaniel, and the Kenmare Valley. Information, additional to that already available, resulted from the survey. This information is not in a form in which I could include it in this reply, but it is available at the Survey Office to all interested parties.
Since November, 1959, three areas, namely, part of Valentia Island, the Coad area near Caherdaniel and an area between Kenmare and Kilgarvan, have been prospected by Irish Base Metals Ltd., Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, under the authority of prospecting licences granted by me. The Company have stated that they have carried out a considerable amount of exploration in the area between Kenmare and Kilgarvan, and in accordance with the terms of their licence they have furnished in confidence information as to the results. They have, however, made no statement in regard to any possibilities of the mines being reopened.