Vol. 429 No. 6
22 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if his Department has received an application for a mining licence from any firm in respect of lead and zinc deposits at Galmoy; if he will give details of the latest information available to his Department regarding the extent of the find; if he, or his Department, has had any discussions with the firm concerned regarding their intentions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An application for a mining licence-lease in respect of lead and zinc deposits at Galmoy, County Kilkenny, has been received in my Department. Discussions with the company concerned on the processing of this application are ongoing. The Deputy will be aware that the prospecting company operating at Galmoy has issued a number of statements on the progress of the operation and any further information would be a matter for the company.
May I ask the Minister when he expects a decision will be made regarding the mining licence? In the discussion held with the company, has the question of royalties been raised and what is the outcome of those discussions?
The company made an application for a mining lease licence on 13 January 1993. Following this application the Department requested information from the company which is required in order to assess the application. However, this information is still awaited and the expectation is that it will be received in the next month. The level of royalties will be carefully considered in negotiations with the company under the lease application, taking account of the characteristics of the deposit and the potential economic outturn.
Has the Department expressed a view to the company on the level of royalities which might be appropriate in this case?
Our first priority is to ensure that the application can proceed. At present we are waiting conclusion of a planning application. We have sought further information and when that is available and everything is in order on the planning side negotiations will be concluded on the matter of royalities.
