Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The only petroleum discovery that has been declared commercial but has yet to be developed is the Corrib Gas Field. The developers of the Corrib Gas Field, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd, have stated their expectation that first gas will be available in the first quarter of 2011. Completion of the development works by the developers is the principal factor that will ultimately determine the date for first gas. There are currently twenty seven active Petroleum Exploration Licences relating to areas of the Irish offshore. Exploration activity related to the agreed work programmes for each licence is ongoing.

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 506. While there have been some encouraging results in a number of areas, no new economic deposits of non-petroleum minerals have been discovered in recent years. Details of Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences can be found in the six-monthly reports to the Oireachtas, which I am obliged to lay before the Houses. The last such report was in respect of the six-month period ended 30 June 2008 which was recently laid before the House. The report for the six months to 30 June 2009 will be laid before the House shortly.