James Leonard
Question:131 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the recent applications, if any, there have been for exploration licences in respect of gas exploration in the counties Cavan and Leitrim. [5197/96]
Written Answers. - Exploration Licence Explanations.
There are no applications at present in my Department for exploration licences for gas in counties Cavan and Leitrim. However, I recently received two applications for onshore licensing options. One application is for an area which includes part of counties Cavan, Leitrim, Monaghan, Roscommon and Sligo and the second application is for a separate area in counties Sligo and Leitrim. Both applications are being examined within my Department at present.
The licensing option is a precursor to an exploration licence. It is appropriate in circumstances where an exploration company is not prepared to commit to an exploration well but wishes to either assess existing data or acquire new data in order to determine the presence or absence of a drillable prospect or drillable prospects.
Under the licensing option an exploration company is required to carry out a work programme agreed with my Department and the duration of the licensing option is governed by the time required to complete that work programme.