asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the steps that are being taken to determine the feasibility of restarting the coal mining industry in Counties Kilkenny and Laois.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kilkenny-Laois Coal Mining.
18.
The coal potential of the Leinster coalfield, which include the anthracite reserves in Counties Kilkenny and Laois, was thoroughly explored in the course of an extensive diamond drilling survey carried out between 1959 and 1963. The survey indicated considerable reserves of minable anthracite but the limited thickness of the seams, coupled with their depth from the surface, discouraged colliery operators from undertaking development. A number of mines within the coalfield, including the largest, Castlecomer, gradually reached the limit of their reserves and subsequently ceased production. The one surviving mine, Rossmore, closed in 1970 but, with the aid of State assistance, reopened last year. One firm is currently producing in County Kilkenny by open cast method from dwindling privately owned reserves capable of such operation.
I would welcome applications from competent enterprises for leasing facilities to work reserves of State-owned coal in Counties Kilkenny and Laois, if considered viable in present circumstances. The Deputy can rest assured that every effort is being made to encourage interest in the further exploration and development of these reserves.
Does the Minister not agree that in the context of the present fuel crisis the feasibility of reopening the Deerpark mine in Castlecomer or a new coalfield in the Newtown area of Laois should be examined?
It certainly appeared to me with the dramatic increase in coal prices that areas of the Leinster Coalfield which had hitherto been uneconomic would become economic.
There are two foot seams in the area I mention.
My instinct was that the increase in price would have made mining economic. The Geological Survey used all the means available to it to draw the attention of potential operators to our coal reserves and it is in the light of their calculations of projected profitability that it seems the interest, while it perks up intermittently, is not such as to validate significant private investment even with the maximum rate of State grant which, I have indicated, we are anxious to give.