Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of commercially viable discoveries of oil, gas or other minerals in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14948/08]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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As was outlined in response to question number 278 on 12th March 2008, 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. So far during 2008 no additional finds have been made.

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 northeast County Limerick by Minco and Xstrata Zinc, near Pallas Green, has encountered high grade intersections of zinc and lead. While these results are encouraging, it is too early to say whether an economic mineral deposit occurs in the area.