Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if a company (details supplied) did not carry out any geological surveys when it acquired lands south of the existing dolomite mine at Ballyredding, Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny; the precise nature of the studies and field work that was carried out and that has subsequently led it to believe that a valuable deposit exists there which is the subject of a compensation claim and objection to the original preferred route of the construction of the motorway between Waterford and Killcullen at this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15184/04]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the company undertook a drilling based geological survey on the lands to the south of the existing dolomite mine at Maddoxtown, Ballyreddin, Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny, in 1996.

The lands were acquired some years earlier. Arising from this work the company identified a potential resource area which was the subject of further limited drilling and geophysical studies. As I explained in my replies to Question No. 158 on 19 February 2004 and Question No. 91 on 4 March 2004, reports supplied by the existing mine lessee's experts were assessed by the technical staff of the Department's exploration and mining division. They are satisfied that sizeable deposits of dolomite exist.