asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the loans and grants allocated to a mining company (name supplied).
90.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - County Kilkenny Mining Lease.
89.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the acreage covered by the mining rights granted to a company (name supplied); when they were granted; and under what terms and conditions.
91.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the acreage of land at present being mined at Dunbell Big, County Kilkenny, by a company (name supplied); and how many years the lands allocated to this company will last for mining purposes.
92.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that a company (name supplied) bought land from three farmers in the Dunbell Big area, Kilkenny, for mining purposes to be leased back to these farmers until required; and if this company is justified in taking the land from the farmers concerned to farm it themselves.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 to 92 together.
I granted a State mining lease on 2nd December, 1968, operative for 40 years from 1st January, 1969, to the company named in respect of dolomite, dolomitic limestone and other minerals in an area comprising 635 acres in part of the townland of Dunbell Big, County Kilkenny. These particulars and the attaching financial terms are set out in my report under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 and 1960, laid before the House on 20th October, 1972. The lease also contained standard covenants designed to ensure proper working of the minerals and maintenance of the leasehold in good order.
I have no precise information about the acreage of the leasehold at present being mined but I am given to understand that the quarry extends over approximately ten acres, with plant and buildings occupying a further ten acres.
I am informed that no loans were made to the company by the Industrial Development Authority or the Industrial Credit Company. No State aid has been made available in connection with the company's mining operation at Dunbell Big, but grants were approved by the Industrial Development Authority for the company's factory at Dungarvan.
As the Deputy is aware, the dispute referred to by him has been brought to my notice. I have already informed the Deputy that I had no function in the purchase of lands by private treaty from which the dispute stems and he will appreciate that it would not, therefore, be proper for me to comment on the merits of the dispute.
Does the Minister intend to take any steps to ensure that people in rural Ireland are not exploited by mining companies? They must sell their land for mining. The Minister gives a licence to mining companies and, therefore, people can be exploited.
The Deputy says the Minister makes an arrangement whereby people must sell their land for mining purposes?
People are obliged to sell their land for mining. Is that not a fact?
No.
If they do not sell it the matter goes to arbitration. It can be taken from them by arbitration.
Apart from the legal situation, the end result is that they would lose it.
I do not think this is so. Very often it suits the landowner to sell the land, but there is no question, in the giving of a lease, of there being any arrangement whereby anybody is instructed by the Minister for Industry and Commerce to sell his land for mining.
But they can go in on the land.
Yes. They can go in on the land for prospecting.
These people were informed that if they did not sell——
By whom?
Not by Industry and Commerce, but the position is that these people sold under an arrangement whereby they would lease back the land from these mining people until it was required for mining. I have a copy of a newspaper here which states "Irishman Gives £2,250,000 to President Nixon's Campaign". This same man drives cattle off this land and puts his own cattle on it. Is it proper procedure for a millionaire to take Irish people's land? The Minister should take note of this. If he were only to whisper in this person's ear that this is not good practice in Ireland——
The Deputy has just done the whispering. The difficulty here is that the Deputy is speaking to me as Minister for Industry and Commerce in relation to my stopping somebody from buying land when the question would probably be more appropriately addressed to the Minister for Lands. I have read these reports, but normally, as Deputy Donegan seemed to imagine, every farmer is hoping that someone will find something valuable on his land.
I did not say that.
He said normally they want to sell.
No.
I am sorry I thought he said that.
In case of any misunderstanding, let me state that these people did not want to sell their land, and what is more, if this land came on to the market they would pay more than they got from the mining company, which was the small sum of £300 an acre.
(Cavan):) The sale of land is hardly a matter for the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
Under the regulations made by the Minister for Industry and Commerce these people had to sell their land. They did not want to sell their land because they are working farmers and they need it for themselves. The Minister for Industry and Commerce would do well to whisper in this man's ear that this is sharp practice and that he has not heard the end of it if he does not——
If an arrangement is arrived at between a buyer and a seller, it is normally a civil case. My reply to the question raised by the Deputy indicates that in no way, either by way of grant or other assistance, did the State co-operate in any arrangement here either for or against. I would find it very difficult to make a specific comment on this. If people were involved in buying and selling land and if, say, the buyer did not honour some commitment into which he entered at the time of purchase, I am sure solicitors would be involved——
Would the Minister agree that this is sharp practice on this man's part?
I do not want to comment without fully knowing the situation.
I think the Minister is fully aware of the situation.