Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Feb 1962

Vol. 193 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Re-opening of Leitrim Barytes Mines.

57.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when the barytes mines at Glencar, County Leitrim will reopen, as there is a serious unemployment problem in both Leitrim and Sligo since they were closed some weeks ago.

I assume that the Deputy is referring to the barytes mines at Glencar near Benbulben Mountain, County Sligo.

I have decided to give a Technical Assistance grant from State funds to the Company operating these mines towards the cost of a scheme of development which they propose to carry out during the next two years. On completion of the development scheme it is hoped that production of barytes may be resumed.

Could the Minister say what is the amount of the grant ?

Could the Minister say whether anything will be done in the near future because quite a number of people who were employed in these mines have been left without employment?

In reply to Deputy Sweetman, the grant will be related to the actual cost of development works. There is a limit on it at the moment of £18,000. In reply to Deputy McLaughlin, it is expected that this development work will take about two years and I cannot anticipate the result of it.

Barr
Roinn