Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 4

Written Answers. - Prospecting Licences.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

51 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason a company (details supplied) has been allowed to take large samples of rock from an area by helicopter, a form of transport which has frightened local people, many of whom are elderly; his views on whether this seems unsuitable in a border, rural and proposed natural heritage area; and the reason no information has been supplied to local people about the activities of the company. [24620/99]

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

Low level flying whether by fixed wing aircraft or by helicopter is regulated by the Irish Aviation Authority.

Slieve Foye is located to the north east of Carlingford, County Louth, and occurs within prospecting licence area number 3842. A prospecting licence for that area was issued to the company named by the Deputy from November 1995 and held by them until its surrender in October 1999 due to a world-wide reorganisation of the company. No exploration was conducted by it in the licence area from November 1998 and no new licence has since been granted for that area. It remains available for exploration. All the work carried out by the company had complied with the requirements of the heritage service, Duchas. This is a condition of all prospecting licences and is strictly enforced by my Department.

My Department is not aware of any current exploration including drilling or sampling of minerals in the Slieve Foye and no such activity is at present authorised under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999. If the Deputy has any relevant information in this matter in relation to the Minerals Development Acts he should pass it on to me and I will ensure that it is followed up.