Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 7

Written Answers. - Natural Resources Development.

Ivor Callely

Question:

62 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the locations, if any, which have been identified as areas of potential for development of natural resources; the surveys, if any, carried out to date in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19232/97]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

There is major potential for the development of natural resources in Ireland. My role is to establish a workable development and regulatory framework within which that potential can be realised and which has the confidence of the public.

Turning to specifics, I would note in regard to hydrocarbons that we have established potential for discoveries both offshore and onshore. In the offshore we have a vast Continental Shelf and 13 major basins and troughs have been identified. Much of the shelf remains underexplored but from 1971 to date 129 exploration wells have been drilled and since 1965 a total of 348 separate surveys have been carried out from which approximately 316,000 line kilometres of seismic data which has been acquired. Ten surveys have been carried out in onshore basins but none has been carried out since 1985.

Details of the various surveys carried out are contained in the half-yearly reports laid before each House of the Oireachtas in accordance with section 57 of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960 and copies of those reports are available in the Oireachtas Library.

In relation to mineral resources, in addition to areas covered by State mining facilities granted under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1995, there are now over 400 areas covered by prospecting licences granted under those Acts, which have potential for development if commercially viable deposits are found there. Considerable effort is directed by the private sector to finding such deposits and Ireland ranks high internationally as a prospective source of further commercially viable deposits of zinc and lead in particular. While most promoting effort concerns zinc and lead, considerable prospecting activity relates to finding industrial minerals (such as gypsum) as well as gold and diamonds. As the development (that is mining) of mineral deposits is entirely funded by the private sector, it will be appreciated that the decision to mine a particular deposit will depend on the ability of the entrepreneur to fund the development and comply fully with the permitting requirements (including mine site rehabilitation and proper mine closure, for which an up-front surety must be in place before mining starts).

In relation to forestry, I would refer the Deputy to the strategic plan for the development of the forestry sector in Ireland which establishes a framework for the development of forestry well into the 21st century. This is a detailed blueprint and I think the Deputy will find it of interest.

In relation to marine resources, the potential for development is underpinned by a substantial research effort to which I am personally committed. The Marine Institute is now making a valuable contribution and is industry focused. The extent and depth of the research is such that it would be beyond the scope of this question but it covered aquaculture development, fish stock assessment, exploitation of new species, new catchment technologies, environmental protection and many others.