Question:
31 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the total value of mineral resources in the national territory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18999/97]
Written Answers. - Mineral Resources.
Róisín Shortall
Question:53 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the total current estimated mineral wealth of the country in monetary terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19152/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 53 together.
My responsibilities under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1995, relate only to minerals as defined within those Acts. This does not include sand, stone, gravel, clay or peat.
By its nature the extent of the mineral wealth in the national territory is unknown until such time as all deposits have been discovered. At present over 400 prospecting licences are held by companies or individuals conducting exploration work to identify and-or prove up mineral deposits in an effort to bring them into production.
A number of significant deposits are currently in production or development, notably Tara Mines Ltd.'s zinc-lead mine at Navan, County Meath, Gypsum Industries operations in counties Monaghan and Cavan, Arcon Mines Ltd.'s zinc-lead mine at Galmoy, County Kilkenny and the recently permitted Lisheen zinc-lead deposit in County Tipperary which has just commenced construction. It would be inappropriate to discuss monetary valuations of these deposits, which are commercially sensitive and based on confidential information. However, the output from Irish mines, which obviously depends on prices, has fluctuated at around £80 to £100 million per annum in recent years.