Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jul 1990

Vol. 401 No. 4

Written Answers. - Prospecting Licences.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

132 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Energy if he will outline the townlands in County Donegal for which prospecting licences have been issued to date; the companies concerned in each case; the conditions and nature of the licence issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Energy (Mr. Molloy)

The Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1979, provide for the granting of mineral prospecting licences which authorise the holders to enter upon the lands specified and there to carry out surveys or other investigations to ascertain whether mineral deposits of commercial interest exist there.

A condition attached to all licences is that the licences must obtain planning permission in advance under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 and 1976, for any work contemplated under the licences which would require such permission.

Prospecting licences holders are also required to carry out their operations in conformity with good prospecting practices and not to interfere unnecessarily with the amenities of the locality in which the license area is situated.

In cases where my Department is aware of an environmentally sensitive site, for example, an historic monument, detailed instructions are given to the licensee regarding their operations, otherwise they are required to consult the Office of Public Works or other relevant bodies.

There are at present 44 prospecting licences granted to ten companies (Appendix A). The licences were issued for an initial term of two years subject to payment of the appropriate fee, and to the conditions generally applicable to the grant of prospecting licences. They were subsequently renewed for further periods, my Department being satisfied that sufficient prospecting work had been carried out and that acceptable work programmes would be undertaken.

There are several hundred townlands in the above licensed areas and the Deputy will appreciate that due to time constraints and staffing resources it is not possible to give a detailed list of the townlands in the reply.

Appendix A

Following is the information requested in relation to current valid prospecting licences in County Donegal.

Name and address of Licensees:

1. Aquitaine Mining Ireland Ltd., Gardner House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2. in joint venture with Cluff Mineral Exploration Ltd., 58 St. James Street, London SW1A 1LD, England and Silvermines plc., 43 Ailesbury Rd. Dublin 4.

Area No.	Townlands	County	Commencement Date
2803	Tawnawully Mountain and adjoining townlands	Donegal	23/1/87
3036	Lenan
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	4/7/83
3037	Dunaff
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	4/7/83

2. Aquitaine Mining Ireland Ltd., Gardner House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2.

Area No.	Townlands	County	Commencement Date
3020	Ballard
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	12/10/81
3038	Ballyliffin
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	9/11/81
3039	Cullionboy
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	9/11/81

3. Burmin Exploration and Development plc., Modeshill, Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary.

Area No.	Townlands	County	Commencement Date
1414	Falcarragh
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	16/1/90

4. Cluff Mineral Exploration Ltd., 58 St. James Street, London SW1A 1LD, England.

Area No.	Townlands	County	Commencement Date
2083	Derrora
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	27/4/88
2084	Church Hill
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	27/4/88
2991	Malin More
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	25/11/87
3007	Kindroghed
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	25/11/87
3008	Glenagiveny
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	25/11/87
3021	Straleel
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	25/11/87
3023	Ballymoon
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	25/11/87
3072	Graffy
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	25/11/87
3078	Meedacalliagh
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	8/8/88
3079	Beauville Keeloges
	& Clonglash
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	8/8/88
3090	Monfad
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	25/11/87
3094	Carrownaff
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	25/11/87
3118	Stradavally
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	25/11/87
3120	Fallask
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	25/11/87
3236	Rathdonnell
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	25/11/87
3326	Cloghroe
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	27/4/88

5. Cobh Exploration Limited, 118 Herbert Park, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Area No.	Townlands	County	Commencement Date
2085	Dromore
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	17/9/89

6. Chevron Mineral Corporation of Ireland 1st Floor, Fitzwilton House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2.

Area No.	Townlands	County	Commencement Date
3128	Behy
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	14/9/88

7. Feltrim Mining plc. 43-49 Mespil Road, Dublin 4.

Area No.	Townlands	County	Commencement Date
2357	Stranorlar
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	23/8/88
2359	Gleneely
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	23/8/88
2961	Ballyhiernan
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	23/9/88
3026	Meenreagh
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	23/8/88
3557	Cranford
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	5/8/88

8. Rio Tinto Finance and Exploration plc., St. James Square, London SW1Y 4LD England.

Area No.	Townlands	County	Commencement Date
2073	Crolly
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	16/3/89
2088	Gortahork
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	16/3/89
2111	Keeldrum Upper
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	16/3/89
2964	Ballylosky
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	3/5/88
3496	Muff
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	3/5/88
3543	Keeldrum Lower
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	16/3/89

9. Tara Prospecting Ltd., Knockumber, Navan Co. Meath.

Area No.	Townlands	County	Commencement Date
3095	Ardmore
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	24/11/84

10. Westland Exploration Ltd., 162 Clontarf Road, Dublin 3.

Area			Commencement
No.	Townlands	County	Date
2089	Illies
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	28/7/78
2115	Fawans
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	29/6/83
2290	Meenachallow
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	28/7/78
2548	Gartan Mountain
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	22/12/86
3062R	Oort
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	16/5/83
3063	Ballyargus
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	16/5/83
3064	Meenabaltin
	and adjoining townlands	Donegal	16/5/83