Vol. 388 No. 5
asked the Minister for Energy if he will give details of prospecting/mining licences granted to companies to carry out prospecting in the Blacksod Bay area of County Mayo; the companies involved; the nature and extent of any such prospecting licences issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
302.
asked the Minister for Energy the companies to which and the conditions under which he has allocated prospecting licences for the purpose of mineral exploration in the area of Blacksod Bay, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 302 together.
Burmin Exploration and Development plc., Modeshill, Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary, hold a prospecting licence over Area No. 3240, adjoining Blacksod Bay, containing the townland of Keel West. The licence was granted to the company on 11th November, 1986.
North West Minerals Limited, 20 Callender St., Belfast, hold prospecting licences over Area Nos. 3173 and 3255, adjoining Blacksod Bay, containing respectively the townlands of Belmullet and Macecrump and adjoining townlands.The licences were granted to the company on 1 March, 1988.
Prospecting licences over Area Nos. 3240 and 3255 authorise the holders to explore for the generality of minerals, while the licence over Area No. 3173 is confined to minerals other than silica sand, china clay and kaolin.
Prospecting licence holders are required to carry out their work in conformity with good prospecting practice and without unnecessary interference with the amenities of the localities in which licence areas are situated. They are required to ensure that if any trenches are opened during exploration work they are backfilled as soon as the programme of work no longer requires them to be kept open and to restore the surface as far as practicable to its original condition.
Prospecting licence holders are requested to inform landowners or surface occupiers, as far as may be practicable, of their intention to enter on properties to carry out work there. Furthermore, they are liable to pay compensation for any damage caused by them. Licence holders are also required to apply for planning permission for any work which would require such permission.
A prospecting licence does not authorise the holder to develop any economic deposits of minerals he may find. For that purpose a separate State mining facility would be required.
