asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether his Department have been in communication with Messrs. Smith and Co., London regarding the re-opening of the Slieve Ardagh coal mines, Co. Tipperary, and whether he can make any statement on the matter.

My Department has not had any recent correspondence on the subject of the re-opening of the Slieve Ardagh coal mines, Co. Tipperary, and no proposal for their re-opening is at present before it. It is now some years since the last communication was received from a Mr. Smith, of London, who, with others, was in touch with my Department on the subject.