John F. O'Connell
Ceist:112 Dr. O'Connell asked the Minister for Energy the number of mining licences granted in each of the past five years.
Written Answers. - Mining Licences.
John F. O'Connell
Ceist:113 Dr. O'Connell asked the Minister for Energy the number of licensees who commenced mining operations in each of the past five years.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together.
I assume the Deputy is referring to State mining leases. The following table sets out the position of leases granted by my Department each year for the period 1986 to 1990. No State mining leases were issued or mining operations commenced in the first three months of this year.
|
Year |
No. of State Mining Leases granted |
No. of Lessees that commenced mining operations |
|
1986 |
1 |
Nil |
|
1987 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
1988 |
1 |
1 |
|
1989 |
1 |
1 |
|
1990 |
Nil |
Nil |
John F. O'Connell
Ceist:114 Dr. O'Connell asked the Minister for Energy if he will outline (1) the procedure for notifying the public, especially the public affected by the licences, in advance of the issuance of mining licences and (2) the means available to the public for lodging objections to licence applications.
State mining leases-licences are granted under section 5 of the Minerals Development Act, 1940, which applies to minerals which are State owned and section 18 of the 1979 Minerals Development Act which relates to minerals in which there is a private interest. Where I am considering a lease or licence application under the 1979 Act, I am required to publish in at least one national daily newspaper and in Iris Oifigiúil for two consecutive weeks, notice of my intention to exercise my powers under the Act. I am also required, as far as is practicable, to notify by registered post my intention to each person who appears to have an estate or interest in the minerals for which the lease is being granted. It is also the practice to place notices in the relevant local newspapers.
The notice indicates the manner and time within which an answer, objection or other communication, if any, arising out of the notice is to be made and the address to which such communications are to be sent. I may refer any representations received for consideration by the Mining Board and I am required to do so in the event of any person making such a request in the prescribed time and manner. The Mining Board are obliged to hold an inquiry and report to me on their findings. Copies of the board's report are also made available on request to each person who made representations.
There are no similar publication requirements or objection procedures for leases issued under section 5 of the 1940 Act nor has it been the practice of previous Ministers for Energy to advertise their intention to grant such leases. It is, however, my policy to ensure that adequate opportunity be given for the lodging of objections to such lease applications.
I would also draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that even after a lease-licence has been granted by me under either Act, full local authority planning permission must be obtained and all of the associated notification and objection procedures complied with before mining can actually commence. The planning process is, in fact, the major forum in which the public make an input into decisions related to mining.