asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give details of the most recent technical surveys of Irish mineral deposits and their extent and commercial prospects; and whether it is the Government's intention to make capital available through the public sector of the economy for the exploitation of these natural resources.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Survey of Mineral Deposits.
48.
The most recent technical surveys of Irish mineral deposits carried out by the State are:
(a) a survey in 1960-1962 of the Leinster and Connaught Coalfields, the report of which was laid before the Oireachtas in July, 1964.
(b) a survey of the prospects of St. Patrick's Copper Mines, Avoca in 1962-1963, the report of which was made available to parties interested in the purchase of the assets of St. Patrick's.
In the past few years some 700 prospecting licences were issued to private mining companies, which have furnished information to my Department. It is not the practice to reveal results of prospecting and development work carried out by private enterprise. It is the policy of the Government not to participate directly in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources but to provide special facilities and incentives including tax concessions and technical assistance grants for mineral exploration and development of private enterprise.
49.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will take steps to ensure that all future geological and mineralogical surveys in this country are carried out under the supervision of experts from the appropriate Government Departments.
It is the policy of the Government not to participate directly in mineral exploration and development but to provide adequate facilities and incentives to private mining concerns to engage in these activities. Applicants for exploration facilities are required to undertake approved programmes of work and they must satisfy my Department of their technological and financial ability to carry out such programmes. The work done is under the general supervision of the Geological Survey Office of my Department.
I am satisfied that this policy is providing for the through and efficient exploration of our mineral resources. In special circumstances, for example in relation to gypsum deposits and the Leinster and Connacht coalfields, the surveys were carried out by contractors for the Geological Survey Office; but these were special cases and the normal position is as I have stated.