Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 580: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on concerns that a gold mining assessment in Cregganbaun, near Louisburgh, County Mayo, is damaging to the environment and local tourism; and his further views on the granting of an exploratory licence in this area. [35652/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My Department is currently processing an application for eleven Prospecting Licences in Mayo, over an area south of Westport and including the Doolough/Cregganbaun area. Notice of Intention to grant these Licences was advertised in the Connaught Telegraph on 14th November 2007. In deference to local concerns that this paper did not have sufficient circulation in some of the areas in question my Department extended the consultation period by a further 21 days and re-advertised in both the Western People and the Mayo News on Tuesday 4th December 2007.

I will adjudicate on the application for a Prospecting Licence for the area in question following the conclusion of the public consultation process within the next month. The consultation process will enable any concerns regarding the environment and tourism to be set out and I will take full account of any such concerns.