Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent, location and commercial value of recent or expected oil, gas or other mineral finds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10985/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to question number 420 on 19 December 2007, in which I outlined that during 2007, two finds were made in the North Celtic Sea Basin off the south coast. Providence Resources Limited identified an oil accumulation at the Hook Head prospect in block 50/11 while Island Oil and Gas Limited encountered gas at the Schull prospect in block 57/2. In addition, Island Oil and Gas Limited successfully appraised its 2006 Old Head gas discovery in block 49/23. In all three cases further studies are continuing in order to determine whether these accumulations can be progressed to commercial developments.

No new economic deposits of non-petroleum minerals have been discovered in recent years. There have been some encouraging results, however. Exploration adjacent to the existing base metal mine at Navan, County Meath (Boliden Tara Mines Ltd), discovered additional resources with the potential to extend the life of that mine, while diamond drilling in north-east County Limerick by Minco and Xstrata Zinc, near Pallas Green, has encountered high grade intersections of zinc and lead. However, although these results are encouraging, it is much too early to say whether an economic mineral deposit occurs in the area.