Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 January 2013
123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of exploration licences issued in each of the last five years to date; the numbers that have returned or position or commercially viable results; the likelihood for such in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5019/13]
View answer126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which positive or commercially viable explorations have identified oil, gas or other minerals or ores on or offshore in each of the past three years to date; the extent to which further development is expected in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5022/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 126 together.
The number of Mineral Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences granted in each year between 1 January 2009 and to date in 2013 is set out in the following table:
Licences Granted during period 2009 – 2013
|
Year |
Prospecting Licences (Minerals) |
Petroleum Exploration Licences |
|
2009 |
66 |
1 |
|
2010 |
93 |
0 |
|
2011 |
98 |
2 |
|
2012 |
102 |
0 |
|
2013 |
1 |
0 |
|
Total |
360 |
3 |
While there have been no new commercial discoveries of oil or gas in the Irish onshore or offshore in the past five years the drilling of an appraisal well on the Barryroe prospect in the Celtic Sea has shown encouraging results. More work will be required to determine if the discovery is actually commercial and it is not clear at this stage how long this process will take. While no new commercially viable deposits of minerals have been discovered recently, there have been some encouraging results, particularly in Counties Limerick and Clare. However, it is too early to determine whether these results will lead to identification of commercially viable deposits or to estimate the economic benefits that might accrue.
Details of all exploration licences can be found in the six-monthly reports to the Oireachtas, which I am obliged to lay before the Houses under the Petroleum and other Minerals Development Act 1960 and Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999 respectively. The last such reports are in respect of the six-month period ending 30th June 2012. These reports are also available on my Department’s website at the following links:
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Natural/Petroleum+Affairs+Division/Acreage+and+Activity+Reports/
and http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Natural/Exploration+and+Mining+Division/Oireachtas+Reports/
