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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Feb 1969

Vol. 238 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - St. Patrick's Copper Mines.

59.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether any construction or extension work was carried out at St. Patrick's Copper Mines, Avoca, subsequent to the closedown of production; and, if so, the nature, cost and extent of this work.

An option exercisable over a period of 30 months to purchase the assets of St. Patrick's Copper Mines Ltd. was granted on 16th September, 1966, to an international consortium. The consortium are carrying out at their own expense a study of the mines' potential to enable them to decide on the feasibility of resuming mining operations. Under the agreement with the consortium they are entitled to explore, develop, diamond drill and do such other mining work as they consider advisable to ascertain the potential of the mines. The investigation has not yet been completed and it would not be appropriate for me to say anything further at this stage.

Can the Minister say if there has been made available to this consortium the report by the mining engineers who advised us many years ago that valuable deposits existed, and indicated that they believed they were aware of where the deposits lay?

To the best of my knowledge all the information available in regard to these mines was made available to the consortium.

I do not wish to offer the Minister any offence, but would it trouble him too much to make the specific inquiry as to whether the actual report we got from the mining engineering consultants has been made available to the consortium? After all, although it is Government property, we paid for it, and we think it would be desirable to make it available.

I will make this specific inquiry.

I am obliged.

My belief at the moment is that it has been supplied.

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