Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 179: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when it is expected that all commercial viable oil, gas or other mineral discoveries are likely to supply product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24337/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 180: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of oil, gas or other mineral explorations currently under way on and off shore; the extent to which commercial viable product has been discovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24338/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 181: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of oil or other mineral exploration licences granted in each of the past five years to date; the number granted under the pre 2007 regime; the number granted thereafter; the extent to which licences were activated in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24339/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 179, 180 and 181 together.

Currently the only discovery of oil and gas declared commercial is the Corrib Gas Field and, as the Deputy was advised in the reply to Question No. 517 on 10 February 2009, the developers Shell E&P Ireland Ltd have stated their expectation that first gas will be available in the last quarter of 2010. Completion of the development works by the developers is the principal factor that will ultimately determine the date for first gas.

With regard to non-petroleum minerals, exploration and development is undertaken by private enterprise and regulated under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999. New exploration is continually undertaken as part of my requirements to holders of Prospecting Licences, of which there are currently 487. Details of these Licenses can be found in the six-monthly report to the Oireachtas, which I am obliged to lay before the House under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999. The last such report was in respect of the six-month period ended 30 December 2008. I will lay the report for the six months to 31 June 2009 before the House as soon as possible after the end of that period.

No new economic deposits of non-petroleum minerals have been discovered in recent years. There have been some encouraging results, however. Details of the number of Mineral Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences granted in the period 2004 to 2009 are contained in the following table:

Twenty-one of the Petroleum Exploration Licences issued between 2004 and 2008 are still active and as of 30 May 2009, there were a total of four hundred and eighty-seven active Prospecting Licences. Exploration activity related to the agreed work programmes for each licence is ongoing. The licensing terms for offshore oil and gas exploration were amended in 2007 and apply to the ten Petroleum Exploration Licences issued since 1 January 2007. The eleven Exploration Licences issued between 2004 and 2006 that are still active are subject to the 1992 licensing terms for offshore oil and gas exploration.