(South Tipperary) asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of the calendar years 1967 and 1968 (a) the quantity and value of anthracite exports, (b) the quantity and value of anthracite imports, (c) the quantity and value of anthracite consumption on the home market and (d) the list of mines engaged in anthracite production during these years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Anthracite Production and Imports.
2.
In 1967 imports of anthracite amounted to 66,012 tons valued at £750,575 and exports amounted to 4,334 tons valued at £43,072. In 1968 imports amounted to 71,783 tons valued at £812,724 and exports amounted to 3,766 tons valued at £36,462.
Reliable figures for the consumption of anthracite on the home market are not available, but figures for consumption and net stock changes combined can be derived from data on domestic production and external trade. Figures for the quantity and value of home production are obtained in the annual Censuses of Industrial Production while figures for the quantity produced are obtained in the Quarterly Industrial Production Inquiry. Production of anthracite in 1967 amounted to 110,900 tons, valued at £681,900 and in 1968 production, as returned in the Quarterly Inquiry, was 105,500 tons. The value of this production is not available.
Consumption and net stock changes, which can be taken as imports plus home production minus exports, was 172,600 tons in 1967 and 173,500 tons in 1968.
Firms engaged in anthracite production during these years were:—
(1) Rossmore Collieries Ltd., Rossmore, County Carlow.
(2) Castlecomer Collieries Ltd., Castlecomer, County Kilkenny.
(3) Ballingarry Collieries (Production) Ltd., Gurteen, Coalbrook, Thurles, County Tipperary.
(4) Robert McGregor and Sons (Ireland) Ltd., Doonana, Crettyard, County Carlow.