Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of oil, gas or other mineral exploration licences sought, granted or refused in each of the past five years to date in 2010; the number pending; the number of those granted and not yet activated for whatever reason; the anticipated uptake in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3323/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The following table details the number of Mineral Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences sought, granted and refused in the period 2005 to date:

Note 1: Licence applications can raise complex technical issues to be resolved with applicants with the result that a licence may actually issue in the following calendar year.

Note 2: It should be noted that one application usually covers a number of Prospecting Licence areas, resulting in a separate minerals prospecting licence being issued for each Prospecting Licence area.

Currently, 66 mineral prospecting licence applications, across a number of prospecting licence areas, are being finalised with applicants, though it would be expected a number of these will be withdrawn as applicants finalise their plans. It is not possible to anticipate the number of licences that will be granted this year, which will be a function of current and future applications in 2010 that applicants pursue to finality. The Deputy will note that 66 applications were granted in 2009 and 11 have been granted to date in 2010. All mineral prospecting licences are activated when granted.

All 22 Petroleum Exploration Licences granted since 2005 were activated. One application for a Petroleum Exploration Licence is currently under consideration. While my Department actively engages with the oil and gas industry to promote Ireland's exploration and development potential, it is difficult to predict the exact number of petroleum exploration applications from year to year.