asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that it is proposed to flood Ballingarry mines, County Tipperary, on 27th July; and the action, if any, he proposes to take to prevent this.
Private Notice Questions. - Ballingarry Mines.
Over the past nine months Fóir Teoranta have maintained the underground mine at Ballingarry in working condition at a total cost of more than £114,000, an average cost of £3,000 a week, while the receiver to the collieries has tried to dispose of the mine as a going concern. The receiver is now satisfied that there is no reasonable prospect of selling the underground mine and the board of Fóir Teoranta have decided, therefore, to discontinue the maintenance operation with effect from 27th July.
I regret that there is no action that I can take in this matter. In the past two years alone the State has provided more than £360,000 to keep the collieries open. Even with further significant State investment there could be no assurance that the collieries would reach a viable position. In the circumstances, further State assistance cannot be justified and the only reasonable course is to discontinue maintenance work. The only prospect for a resumption of mining at Ballingarry is on an open-cast basis and the decision to cease maintenance of the underground mine does not affect this prospect.
Arising from the Minister's reply, would the Minister state whether a number of people were interested in buying the underground mine? Would it not be cheaper to sell it to them, at any rate, to get the mine working? The local people are very antagonistic towards open-cast mining in the area.
I have received very earnest representations from the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Treacy, and from Deputy Griffin and Deputy Davern and from other people interested in Ballingarry.
(Interruptions.)
I received representations from commercial concerns in Ballingarry. The ability of the Minister for Finance to be involved in this is limited by the establishment of Fóir Teoranta. Fóir Teoranta are a body empowered with certain statutory functions in this area with which I cannot interfere. I know that all offers made were most earnestly considered. I am aware of the importance to Ballingarry of the preservation of this industry, but Fóir Teoranta, who are the body with the statutory authority in this sphere, are satisfied that the continuance of this mine or of the steps necessary to maintain it in working condition would not be justified.
I am sure the Deputy will be grateful that, although Fóir Teoranta came to this conclusion three months ago, I succeeded in persuading them to keep the operations going in the hope that another three months might have produced some viable offer for the mine. Unfortunately, it was not forthcoming. In the circumstances, having regard to the fact that the board of Fóir Teoranta thought that the closure should have taken place about three months ago it was obviously not on to recommend the continuation of the operations any longer.
Is the Minister aware that this affects the livelihood of 300 workers in this area? The IDA have failed to supply a factory in spite of the fact that the area has been declared a high priority area. I am not aware, apart from the political commercialism that the Minister indulged in here today, that the Minister ever attended meetings of miners or that the Ceann Comhairle, before he was Ceann Comhairle, attended. I know that he is personally interested also.
The Chair has no part in this at all.
The Chair was already involved by the Minister, not by me. For that reason I seek the support of the Chair in going to the Minister to prevent this. Is the Minister aware that he is now declaring Ballingarry a backwater area, a dead area that will never be alive again?
Thanks to Fianna Fáil.
The reality is that about 350 people were working in Ballingarry when Fianna Fáil were allegedly in control of events. There are now 26 people working in Ballingarry. The situation which we inherited was one of complete destitution and despair in Ballingarry.
I object to the workers of Ballingarry being used as political footballs by the Minister.
(Interruptions.)
I am talking about the lives of the workers.
(Interruptions.)
Being deliberately disorderly is no help in this instance.
I do not think that a circus performance by Deputy Davern in Dáil Éireann will be of any assistance to the hard-pressed people in Ballingarry.
(Interruptions.)
The reality of the matter is that we continued support operations in Ballingarry beyond the period recommended by the Fianna Fáil directors of Fóir Teoranta. We did not acquiesce in the closure of these operations until we were overwhelmed with the advice which we received from this directorate that there was no possibility of entertaining any of the offers made for Ballingarry. So far as we are concerned, if we find the least reason for hope in the region of Ballingarry we will give it. In the meantime, my colleague, the Minister for Industry and Commerce, is using his good offices with the IDA to endeavour to attract alternative industry to Ballingarry. I do not think that these efforts will be in any way assisted by the kind of professional despair which, for his own partisan reasons, Deputy Davern is endeavouring to spread here and in Ballingarry.
The Minister stated that he would endeavour to do his best and that he would ensure that he would do something after the 27th about——
I can tell you a few things.
I do not want the Deputy's comments at all. I would suggest that the Deputy invent something into which he himself could disappear.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please, on both sides of the House.
Is the Minister aware that, if this mine is flooded on the 27th July, it is then irrevocable and nothing can be gone back on? A mine flooded can never be used again.
I am aware of these difficulties. I was aware of them last March. It was on that account that I made specific requests to Fóir Teoranta and to the receiver not to bring about the closure then. In the meantime, every possible effort has been made to obtain some viable offer for Ballingarry. As the Deputy will readily appreciate——
Will you give the mine to the workers?
——there was in this year's budget additional assistance for mining of the kind conducted at Ballingarry. These new benefits were brought to the attention of all the people who were at that time making offers. Notwithstanding these new incentives no proposition has been put up which the receiver or Fóir Teoranta could entertain. There was no prospect of operating Ballingarry Mines successfully. As Fóir Teoranta are now proceeding with their proposals to discontinue the present position, the Deputy and everybody in Ballingarry may be assured that the Government will make every effort they can to provide alternative industry in Ballingarry which will give far more employment than that in the present operation, which at present employs only 26 people.
Will the Minister give the mine to the workers?
It is a matter for the receiver.
I am calling on Deputy O'Malley for the next Private Notice Question.
Would the Chair rule on whether the Minister was in order when he referred to the Fianna Fáil directors of Fóir Teoranta?
(Interruptions.)