Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 966: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent of discovery of precious ores or metals on or off shore in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29192/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 972: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent of gas, oil or other mineral finds on or offshore in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29199/08]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 966 and 972 together.

There have been no discoveries of precious ores or metals offshore in the past five years. No new economic deposits of minerals have been discovered onshore in recent years. However, there have been some encouraging results. Exploration adjacent to the existing base metal mine at Navan, County Meath (Boliden Tara Mines Limited), discovered additional reserves with the potential to extend the life of that mine.

Diamond drilling in northeast County Limerick by Minco and Xstrata Zinc, has encountered high grade intersections of zinc and lead. Conroy Diamonds and Gold plc recently announced that it had increased its estimate of gold resources at its Clontibret prospect. Although these results are encouraging, it is early to say whether economic mineral deposits occur in the areas in question.

As outlined in the reply to Question No. 195 on 29 May 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.