asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will outline the offshore exploration activities that are in progress in relation to gas, oil and mineral exploration in Irish-controlled waters.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mineral Exploration
39.
Exploration for gas and oil is being carried out by Marathon Petroleum Ireland Ltd., in certain areas off the south and west coasts in respect of which the company hold exclusive facilities and elsewhere by 37 holders of non-exclusive petroleum prospecting licences which confer on each holder the right, in common with all other such licence holders, to carry out general exploration over that part of our designated Continental Shelf area not held exclusively by Marathon.
Five petroleum leases have been granted to Marathon within the part of their exploration area which is off the south coast and to date seven test wells have been drilled. The Deputy will recall that the company announced that natural gas has been encountered in two of these wells but that considerable further testing would be necessary before the existence of a field capable of commercial exploitation could be established.
The holders of prospecting licences are required to lodge reports and results of work done under these licences with the Geological Survey. This information is confidential for a period of five years from the date of lodgement.
There is no offshore exploration for minerals other than gas and oil in Ireland's designated area of the continental shelf.
Could the Minister elaborate on what exactly is the designated area?
We have a general right to the Continental Shelf and inside that there is a grid set up and there are specific areas which have been extensively published. If the Deputy wants to see a map of them I could provide it.