I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 23 and 30 together.
Exploration is taking place at Galmoy under a prospecting licence granted by my Department. There have been encouraging results from prospecting in the area but I am unable to make a detailed statement in the matter because information furnished by prospecting companies is treated as confidential by my Department during the currency of the licence.
I received a report from the Geological Survey on the possibility of viable coal deposits in the Kish Bank basin. The Geological Survey are currently completing their preparation of a document drawing together all the departmental material on hand on the subject. It is my intention to publicise the availability of this material shortly and to indicate my Department's readiness to consider applications for exploration facilities in the area.
The amount of information available at present on the coal resources in the basin is too limited to arrive at any firm conclusions at this stage on their commercial mining potential.