asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what is the position regarding the silver mines at Tynagh, County Galway; if he is prepared to compensate the owners of the land in which rights have been acquired; and if so, if such compensation will take the form of lump sum or royalties, or both.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Galway Silver Mines.
24.
The position regarding the mineral deposits in the Tynagh area of Galway is that they are at present being explored by Irish Base Metals Ltd., an Irish subsidiary of Northgate Exploration Ltd. of Toronto.
I recently made an Order under the Minerals Development Act, 1940, compulsorily acquiring such of the minerals underlying a number of townlands in the Tynagh area as were not already in State ownership.
No land was acquired by this Order; only the minerals under the land were acquired. Therefore the owners of the land would not be entitled to compensation as a result of the Order unless they also owned the minerals under their land.
The position in regard to compensation for minerals acquired under a Compulsory Acquisition Order is set out in the Minerals Development Act, 1940. Depending on the circumstances it may take the form of lump sum payment or royalties. It is important that anyone who considers he is entitled to compensation as a result of the recent Order should lodge a claim with my Department as soon as possible.