asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the amount of money from all State and semi-State resources which was invested in the Ballingarry Anthracite Mines, Thurles, County Tipperary; to whom such money was made available, when, and for what purpose; if he is satisfied that the money made available by way of loan, grant or other means, was expended in the manner intended; the steps, if any, which were taken by his Department and the other State agencies involved to ensure accountability and also that the then owners had the financial, managerial and technical resources to establish and maintain a viable mining operation at Ballingarry; the nature of any investigations which have been carried out or are presently in train in connection with the operation of the mines in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Ballingarry (Tipperary) Mines.
Limerick East): The provision of grant assistance in this case and the conditions for such assistance were matters solely for decision by the Industrial Development Authority in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Development Acts.
The IDA made grant payments of £351,424 in 1983-84 to Tipperary Anthracite Limited towards the cost of machinery and equipment for the development of its mine at Ballydine. County Tipperary. Payments were made in accordance with normal IDA procedures, including compliance with a requirement for an auditor's certificate of expenditure. The IDA has sought repayment of these grants from the liquidator, whom it is understood is still investigating the affairs of this company. Garda investigations into the valuation of the grant aided machinery are continuing.