Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2013
154. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm if any applications for an extension of the existing onshore licensing options have been received by his Department and the closing date for same. [9325/13]
View answerThe three onshore licensing options granted in February 2011 are for a two year period from 1st March 2011 to 28th February 2013. The licensing options confer upon the holders the first right, exercisable at any time during the period of the option, to an application for an exploration licence or licences over all or part of the area covered by the option. Under the terms of the licensing competition the duration of the licensing options cannot be extended. I can confirm that two of the companies concerned have recently submitted applications for follow-on exploration licences.
As I have confirmed to the House on a number of previous occasions, no decision will be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling in Ireland until there has been time to consider the outcome of further research to be commissioned by the EPA in this area.
