Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to recent discoveries of oil, gas or other minerals arising from previous or current explorations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20706/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to recent discoveries of oil, gas or other minerals arising from previous or current explorations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20831/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 344 together.

There have been no discoveries of oil and gas in the past three years. The last potential discovery was on the Dooish prospect 125 km off the Donegal coast in the Rockall Basin. This prospect was drilled in 2002 by Enterprise Energy Ireland (now Shell E&P Ireland) and discovered a gas condensate accumulation. The well was re-entered and deepened in 2003. Both my Department and Shell E&P are continuing to analyse the well results and integrate them with other data from the area. To date this discovery has not been declared as commercial.

I am aware that there has been some licensed exploration activity for gas in the North West Carboniferous Basin, in counties Leitrim and Cavan. Interest in this area derives from gas shows in previous exploration but to date there has been no commercial discovery.

With regard to non-petroleum minerals, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to similar questions number 67 on 21st February 2006 and number 386 on the 6th April 2006. New exploration is continuously undertaken as part of my requirements to holders of Prospecting Licences, of which there are currently 262. All exploration results are furnished to my Department as a condition of the Prospecting Licences and I am kept up to date on developments.

Details of Prospecting Licences can be found in the six monthly report to the Oireachtas which I am obliged to lay before the House under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999. The latest such report, in respect of the six-month period ended 31 December 2005, was recently laid before this House.