Prospecting Licences

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2015

Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Ceisteanna (517)

Joan Collins

Ceist:

517. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of finances lost to his Department due to his predecessor's decision not to require the holding of petroleum prospecting licences, contrary to the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production 2007, which formed part of the terms and conditions of the onshore options licences, granted in 2011, to companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19607/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

The three companies referred to were awarded onshore Licensing Options in February 2011 for a period of two years from 1 March 2011 to 28 February 2013.

In the absence of a specific set of licensing terms for the onshore area, applicants in the 2010 Onshore Licensing Round were advised that any licensing option granted under the licensing round would be subject to the offshore licensing terms. The licensing terms set down in some detail the regulatory framework applying to applicants and holders of petroleum authorisations, most of which are equally applicable to the offshore and onshore areas.

While the holders of the three onshore licensing options granted under the 2010 licensing round each applied for a petroleum prospecting licence, the Department did not process the applications as the work programmes being progressed did not involve interventions that would require a petroleum prospecting licence under the 1960 Act.

The fee to be paid on submission of an application for a petroleum prospecting licence is €1,520 and an annual fee of €7,601 per licence also applies.