asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce (a) the number of prospecting licences at present in use in Ireland, (b) the number of such licences held by Irish interests, and (c) the percentage of the total area of the 26 Counties covered by these licences.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prospecting Licences.
37.
501 prospecting licences are currently valid in this country. Of these, 157 are held by Irish-registered companies, Irish nationals, or Irish and foreign interests jointly. I should point out that in many cases Irish-registered mining companies are wholly or partly owned subsidiaries of foreign, mostly Canadian, concerns. These licences cover approximately 21 per cent of the total area of the State.