asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will arrange for the inclusion of the West Limerick coalfields in the proposed three year geological survey of coalfields in the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Limerick Coalfields.
It is the intention that the survey should be carried out in the Leinster and Connaught coalfields which are the areas calculated to give the best results for the moneys which will be expended. I am aware that there are some indications of the existence of coal deposits in West Limerick and elsewhere, but in view of the limited funds which are available it would not be practicable to extend the scheme to include areas where the prospects of discovering economic deposits of coal are less than in the Leinster and Connaught coalfields.
I am, however, prepared to facilitate private interests in exploring the coal deposits in the West Limerick coalfield and, in fact, I have been given one concern two prospecting licences for coal exploration in the Newcastle West area.