asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that iron ore is to be found in the Tallow (County Waterford) district, and if he will consider the question of having the matter investigated by an expert with a view to ascertaining if the ore exists in such quantity as to make its working a commercial proposition.

I am not aware that iron ore is to be found in the Tallow (County Waterford) district. There is no record on the geological field maps of the occurrence of iron ore in the vicinity.