asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that a rich iron ore deposit exists and was worked up to as recently as 40 years ago, in Smear, County Longford; and whether, in view of the poverty and unemployment in North Longford, he will cause a geological survey to be made of the district in order to discover if coal for smelting is available, and the possibility of the economic production of iron.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - IRON ORE DEPOSITS IN LONGFORD.
I am aware that iron ore was worked in this locality some 40 or 50 years ago and was sent to England for smelting purposes, but that the project was ultimately abandoned as it did not prove a paying proposition. I do not control the Geological Survey Office, but am informed that the original geological survey of this district was revised about 1900. There is not evidence that the geological formation of the area carries seams of payable or commercial coal, and in these circumstances I am not satisfied that the expense of another revision would be justified. It would require in addition a large expenditure to carry out preliminary prospecting so as to obtain information as to the quantity and quality of iron ore. It does not appear that this expenditure would be justified in the present state of the iron ore market. If, however, there are known to the Deputy any places where coal has recently been discovered, I shall arrange to have them inspected and reported on.
Would the Minister possibly be misled by the geological survey that was left here by the British?
I might be misled by the Deputy.