asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will grant the appropriate licence to a firm (name supplied) in Clonmel, County Tipperary, for the operation of Ballingarry Collieries so that the mines may be put to productive use and much needed employment provided in this disadvantaged area.

I understant that discussions between the interests in question and the receiver for the mine, involving an option to purchase the State mining lease, are at an advanced stage. I would be glad to see the Ballingarry mine in production again and when full details of the arrangement contemplated are available I will give very careful consideration to the question of approving an assignment of the lease.

May I take it there is a firm intention, if not a decision, to grant a licence to the person referred to in the question?

Any operation which holds out the prospect of providing much-needed employment in the Ballingarry area must be encouraged. However, in connection with the present proposals, there are two aspects which will need to be very carefully considered, namely, whether the proposed operations envisage substantial assistance from the State in some form or another and whether they have the technical competence to take on and sustain a mining operation. If the Minister is satisfied that both these factors, particularly the second, exist then I believe there would be no problem.

May I remind the Parliamentary Secretary of the urgent need to make an early decision in this matter having regard to the need to provide employment in this disadvantaged area and has the Parliamentary Secretary any indication as to the prospective labour content in the new undertaking?

The Minister and his Department are very concerned about having the matter seen to successfully as soon as possible. At the moment there is no indication as to what the employment potential would be. That would be a matter for the company or companies taking up the mining operations.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary give any indication as to when this matter will be resolved? Will the period be of long duration or short duration? How soon?

As soon as possible—as soon as the conditions have been met to the Minister's satisfaction.