asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in respect of County Louth what prospecting or mining licences have been granted; and to whom they were granted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Louth Mining Licences.
42.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
1. Prospecting Licences currently valid in respect of areas in County Louth.
|
Area No. |
Licensee |
Area(sq. mls) |
Townlands |
|
676 |
Rio Tinto Finance and Exploration Ltd., and W. & H.M. Goulding Ltd. |
14 |
Rathcor and adjoining townlands |
|
1040 |
Irish Base Metals Ltd. |
10 |
Baltray and adjoining townlands |
|
1510 |
Hibernian International Development Corporation Ltd. |
14 |
Kane and adjoining townlands |
2. Areas in respect of which notice of intention to grant prospecting licences has been published.
|
Area No. |
Licensee |
Area(sq. mls) |
Townlands |
|
1552 |
Rio Tinto Finance and Exploration Ltd. and W. & H.M. Goulding Ltd. |
16 |
Carrickcarnan and adjoining townlands. |
|
1553 |
do. |
16 |
Ballyonan and adjoining townlands. |
Five applications for prospecting licences for further areas are under examination in my Department.
3. Areas in respect of which licences were granted but the licences have now expired.
|
Area No. |
Licensee |
Area(sq. mls) |
Townlands |
Date of Surrender |
|
554 |
Patino Mining Corporation |
13 |
Ardee and adjoining townlands. |
6th Nov., 1970. |
|
675 |
Rio Tinto Finance and Exploration Ltd. and W. & H.M. Goulding Ltd. |
10(including ground in Co. Meath) |
Knowth and adjoining townlands |
7th Feb., 1969, |
|
1163 |
American Smelting and Refining Company |
12(including ground in County Monaghan) |
Carrickashedoge and adjoining townlands. |
17th October, 1970 |
No mining leases have been granted in respect of areas in County Louth.
Is it very long?
It is. In my efforts to assist the Deputy not alone is the reply reasonably long but pretty detailed also.
Perhaps we have been sitting on a gold mine and we did not know it.