Vol. 451 No. 3
36 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications whether studies of the commercial exploitation of lithothamnium deposits off the Galway coast been undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter including the environmental consideration involved. [6504/95]
The Geological Survey of Ireland, a line division of my Department, has recently prepared a report on the occurrence and nature of carbonate sediments around our coastline. This report, which refers to the lithothamnium deposits of the Galway region, will be published later this year. The report will not deal with the exploitation of the deposits and, accordingly, will not treat of commercial or environmental aspects. Extraction of the deposits would be a matter for the Minister for the Marine under the Foreshore Acts.
