Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 508: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of exploration licences granted in each of the past five years; the number of commercial fines arising therefrom, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4948/09]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Details of the number of Mineral Prospecting Licences (PLs) issued in the last five years are contained in the following table.

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 north-east 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 too early to say whether economic mineral deposits occur in the areas in question.

25 Petroleum Exploration Licences were also issued by my Department during the same period.

Three finds have been made and further studies are being undertaken to determine whether any of these finds can be progressed to commercial developments.