asked the Minister for Energy the plans he has for the development of the gypsum find in west County Cavan; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of having this development processed on the site and not taken away to be processed elsewhere; if his attention has further been drawn to the employment this development will give in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Development of Gypsum Find.
5.
The grant of a mining lease by my Department would be a prerequisite to the commencement of a gypsum mine development at Glangevlin, County Cavan. Before the question of grant of a lease can be fully considered by my Department it will be necessary for the company concerned to show that an adequate body of economically mineable ore reserves has been delineated and to provide further information on the nature and extent of the mining and processing operations planned and on the arrangements envisaged for implementation of those plans. Certain information in this regard has been sought from the company.
I fully appreciate the processing and employment considerations to which the Deputy has referred and I will continue to bear them in mind.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. I am glad that he appreciates that the discovery is of vital importance to the area that has suffered drastically from unemployment and emigration. To allay the fears of the local people, can the Minister give an assurance that a plant will be established in this area to carry out the processing of the ore reserves? If the product were manufactured elsewhere this would have a negative effect on the area.
It is somewhat premature to give that kind of guarantee. The matter is being examined at present. There are certain powers which the Minister for Energy has in the granting of leases which could take into account the factors which the Deputy is worried about but indeed there are many other factors also and I would prefer to await the outcome. However, I wish to indicate to the Deputy that it would be my desire that these resources would be processed in the area in which they had been located. It will be some time before I will be in a position to make a decision. I am not at liberty to say whether one or more companies are involved.
Are we talking about months or years?
I hope we are talking about months.
Is the Minister now considering, in relation to applications for mining licences, whether or not it is to be a requirement that an environmental impact assessment be carried out prior to the decision being made by the Minister and what consultation does the Minister have with local authorities with regard to the planning aspect?
The Deputy is expanding the scope of the question out of all proportion.
The granting of a mining lease in any sensitive area would be subject to appraisal by the local authority and subsequent planning permission. It is my wish that as far as the granting of mining leases in any sensitive areas is concerned a condition for the granting of planning permission will be required before work can commence.
Is the environmental impact assessment a requirement?
Question No. 6, please.
That is a somewhat broader question than the one put down and it requires further clarification.
Question No. 6, please.
I will bow to the wishes of the Ceann Comhairle.