andMr. M. Smith asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the closing down of the Ballingarry coal mines, County Tipperary; and whether he has any proposals that would enable them to be kept open.
155.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballingarry (County Tipperary) Coal Mines.
154.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the Ballingarry coal mines, County Tipperary, remain open so that 300 people may be kept in work.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together.
I am aware of the problems affecting this firm and the Government Departments concerned are examining the situation to see whether there is any way in which the firm can be assisted in solving their problems.
Would the Minister agree, in relation to the Ballingarry coal mines, that the position could broadly be classified as extremely serious? Am I overstating it?
It is very difficult. To say that it is extremely serious could, on the one hand, be unfair and, on the other hand, could be correct. That is perhaps playing it both ways, but in relation to any industry where difficulties are being experienced it often can be disastrous to over-emphasise the difficulties for fear that the repercussive effects in various other ways would interfere with the possibility of its survival.
I appreciate the point made by the Minister, but is he any way hopeful that the Department's efforts in this regard will be successful in keeping this mine open?
I am not without hope that we shall succeed in keeping this mine open.
The remaining Questions will appear on Tuesday's Order Paper unless Deputies are prepared to take written answers.
The Dáil adjourned at 5 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 2nd February, 1971.