asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the extent of known coal deposits in the country in terms of location and tonnage; the percentage of these deposits currently being worked; and the plans, if any, that exist for the future working of the remaining deposits.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal Deposits.
15.
Total recoverable reserves of coal in Ireland have been estimated at 44.68 million tonnes. There are 25.6 million tonnes in the Connacht coalfield, 15 million tonnes in the Leinster coalfield and about 4.1 million tonnes in the Slieveardagh coalfield, County Tipperary. Only a relatively small proportion of the reserves are being worked at present.
More than half of the total reserves consist of high-ash semi-bituminous coal in the Connacht coalfiels which is regarded as technically suitable for use only in fluidised-bed combustion processes for electricity generation, and a development of this kind later in this decade has been approved. A considerable proportion of the Leinster coalfield coal reserves has a relatively high sulphur content and I am advised that such coal would not be suitable for general domestic or industrial purposes unless it was treated. The thinness of the Irish coalfields is also a factor which would militate against economic development of the reserves in certain locations. Nevertheless, the coalfields, which provide employment for about 400 men at present, have a potential for further development and it is my intention to encourage and facilitate such development.
A leading firm of British coalmining consultants was commissioned in 1980 in order to obtain an up-dated assessment of the nature and extent of Irish coal reserves and of the potential for the establishment of further mining operations. The consultants' report will be completed in a few weeks, and I expect to be in a position then to consider how best to secure the fullest possible development of our coal reserves.
Would the Minister accept that the escalating costs of energy of all kinds make it possible in the immediate short-term that our coal deposits such as they are, thin seams or otherwise, will become that much more valuable? Consequently would he accept that it is necessary in the interim period that we do not encourage open-cast mining which endangers the deeper deposits of any fuel? There is a tendency in certain parts of the areas he has mentioned to engage in open-cast mining. Has the Minister taken any position in relation to discouraging these kinds of operations?
As the Deputy has heard, the consultants report will be available to me within a few weeks and I intend then to take a position on the matter.
Is the Minister aware that proposals are received continously from companies in respect of projects of an open-cast mining nature? The Minister has been in office for three months and I am asking whether he has taken any position in relation to such applications. Is he doing anything to discourage open-cast mining operations?
Every application received is analysed in full detail. I am aware of what the Deputy has in mind and I can asure him that the final position on this matter will be more or less in line with what he is suggesting.
I do not wish to embarrass the Minister but he has the particular facility of replying to most questions in the way in which he has replied to this one. Has he discouraged in the past few weeks any projects of an open-cast mining character? My information is that certain proposals in this regard have been made.
It would be very difficult for my predecessor to embarrass me. Indeed, if I chose to do so I could very easily embarrass him. Regarding his question, I do not encourage the type of operation he has in mind.