Vol. 407 No. 8
58 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the potential for export of crushed stone to Britain has been examined in view of the present massive exports of crushed stone from Northern Ireland to Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A survey of the British aggregates market was carried out by Córas Tráchtála in 1990.
The British market is mainly from domestic quarries and from Scandinavian sources. It is a relatively open market with buyers emphasising price and flexible volume delivery on a 24 hour basis. The Córas Tráchtála survey found that product quality from Ireland would be similar to that available from British sources. Taking location, cost and environmental factors into account a limited number of high quality quarries here are suitable for the economics of exporting to Britain.
Exports of crushed stone and gravel from this country are currently valued at £4 million per annum. This is about the same level as exports of crushed stone from Northern Ireland. Seventy-five per cent of our exports go to Britain and Northern Ireland.
