Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 May 2014
282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the degree to which ongoing oil, gas and other mineral exploration continues; the number of licences issued and activated in each of the past six years to date; the number of positive or commercially viable discoveries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20362/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of all Prospecting Licences can be found in the six-monthly report to the Oireachtas, which I am obliged to lay before the Houses under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999. The last such report was in respect of the six-month period ending 31 December 2013. This report is available on my Department’s website at www.dcenr.gov.ie. The number of Mineral Prospecting Licences granted in each year between 2008 and 2014 are set out in the table.
Prospecting Licences Granted during period 2008 – 2014
|
Year |
Prospecting Licences (Minerals) |
|
2008 |
91 |
|
2009 |
66 |
|
2010 |
93 |
|
2011 |
98 |
|
2012 |
102 |
|
2013 |
142 |
|
2014 |
50 (to April 30th 2014) |
With regard to non-Petroleum minerals, there are 643 mineral Prospecting Licences currently held by 48 companies. Once issued, all licences are active.
While no new commercially viable deposits of minerals have been discovered in the past ten years, 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.
Details of all Authorisations granted under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960 can be found in the six-monthly report to the Oireachtas. The last such report was in respect of the six-month period ending 31 December 2013. This report is available on my Department’s website at www.dcenr.gov.ie. The table sets outs the Authorisations granted in the years 2008 to the end of April 2014.
Petroleum Exploration Licences Granted during period 2008 – 2014
|
Year |
Offshore Petroleum Exploration Licences |
Licensing Options |
Petroleum Prospecting Licences |
|
2008 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
|
2009 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
2010 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
2011 |
9 |
3 |
|
|
2012 |
6 |
1 |
|
|
2013 |
5 |
5 |
9 |
|
2014 (to 30th April) |
6 |
1 |
There have been no commercial discoveries of oil or gas within the territory of the State in the last five years. With new company entrants in 2013 it is evident that that there is significant and growing capacity in the sector demonstrating that exploration in the Irish offshore is moving in the right direction.
