Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
141. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what environmental impact is expected in County Clare following the issuance of mining prospect licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31207/23]
View answerProspecting has been occurring within Co Clare for over half a century. Despite such a prolonged period of exploration activity, significant effects on the environment have not arisen from previous prospecting. There are no significant adverse effects that are likely to arise from the issuance of Prospecting Licences (PLs) in Co Clare.
All mineral exploration activities take place within a framework of Irish and EU legislation that has been implemented to ensure that the environment is protected. Prospecting Licence holders must comply with all relevant legislation including:
• EC (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations, 2011 (SI No 477 of 2011)
• EC Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations, 2010 (SI No 9 of 2010)
• EC Environmental Objectives (Surface Water) Regulations, 2009 (SI No 272 of 2009)
• EU (Appropriate Assessment) (Minerals Development Act 1940) (Amendment Regulations 2018 (SI No 385 of 2018)
• EU (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Minerals Development Act 1940) (Amendment Regulations 2018 (SI No 384 of 2018)
• EU (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Minerals Development Act 1940) (Amendment Regulations 2019 (SI No 164 of 2019)
In compliance with the terms and conditions of Prospecting Licences, all exploration activities carried out by a Licensee must be undertaken in such a manner as to avoid damage to the environment and the amenities of a PL Area and also to avoid or minimise disturbance of local residents. The licensee is also obliged to follow the guidance for good environmental practice in mineral exploration as part of its Licence conditions as set out by my Department.
Furthermore, all proposed exploration activities are the subject of environmental screening assessments to ensure that they will not give rise to any significant adverse effects on the environment. The majority of prospecting activities undertaken by licensees (e.g. geological mapping, hammer prospecting, geochemical sampling and ground geophysical surveys) are temporary, low impact and cause minimal disturbance. Where they are undertaken outside of the footprint of designated sites, these activities are not likely to have a significant effect on the environment.
In the event that drilling is proposed, the activity will be subject to detailed environmental screening assessments undertaken by environmental consultants on behalf of the Geoscience Regulation Office. Drilling also requires the consent of the relevant landowner/tenant. Drilling will only be permitted where screening assessments indicate that there is no potential for significant environmental effects.
It is important that a distinction be made between the activities of prospecting and mining which are very different in terms of their scale and potential environmental impact. Prospecting relates only to exploration for minerals and a Prospecting Licence does not confer the licensee with any rights to mine. Mining as the activity of removing minerals from the ground requires three State consents from three different bodies: planning permission; an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) or an Industrial Emissions (IE) Licence; and a State Mining Lease or Licence. Prospecting does not inevitably lead to mining. While approximately one fifth of Ireland’s land area is covered by active PLs. Despite such wide-ranging exploration activity, only a small number of metal mining operations have been developed in the ‘modern’ era.
