asked the Minister for Finance if the people who were employed in open cast mining by the previous company at Ballingarry collieries, County Tipperary have been compensated to date.
278.
Written Answers. - Ballingarry Collieries.
277.
asked the Minister for Finance if there are any parties interested in taking over Ballingarry collieries, County Tipperary as an open cast mine.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 278 together.
There has been no open cast mining at Ballingarry for a number of years and the question of compensation for people employed on this operation does not arise.
I understand that over the past nine months, while the Receiver tried to dispose of the collieries as a going concern, a number of parties expressed tentative interest in open cast operations. There have been no positive developments, however, in this regard.