Vol. 237 No. 15
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware, in view of the large number of mining licences that have been issued, of the danger of all mining rights in this country falling into the hands of a few people with no opportunity for others or attractions for them to come to this country; and what steps he is taking to avoid such a situation.
75.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if there is a limit to the mining concessions and prospecting licences that are issued to an individual or to one associated group.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.
The purpose of granting prospecting licences in the first instance is to encourage the exploration and development of our mineral resources by people competent to do so. In considering applications for licences the closest attention is paid to the character, financial standing and technical qualifications of the applicants and their proposed programme of work. No arbitrary limit has been set to the number of licences that may be granted to an individual or company but before granting a licence I must be fully satisfied as to the capacity of the applicant to carry out a satisfactory programme of work in all licensed areas.
Prospecting licences are granted only for one year and are renewed only where past performance and future work programmes are considered satisfactory. In this way a degree of mobility in the issuing of licences is preserved and the objectives of the Minerals Development Acts can be attained by ensuring that those who have shown themselves competent and willing to undertake minerals exploration will have prospecting licences available to them.
I might add that the number of licences current on 1st December, 1968, was 850, the number of licence holders was 50 and the area of the country covered approximately 25 per cent.
Would the Minister agree that it is open to anyone to apply for a prospecting licence and that until a few groups came into the country very little of this work was done? Surely there is no reason why those who show they have the ability to prospect should not be given an opportunity at least?
I agree. I tried to convey that in the reply.
