Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent of discovery in each of the past five years to date in 2009 of commercially viable ores; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43679/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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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 483. 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 June 2009.

While there have been no new commercially viable mineral discoveries in the past five years there have, however, been some encouraging results.