Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the work that has been done to date in relation to possible gas reserves at Lough Allen; and the further works that are in planned for the future. [14077/10]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Lough Allen is situated in the North West Carboniferous Basin and has been subject to a number of petroleum exploration authorisations. Six exploration wells have been drilled in the area since 1963 and while some natural gas potential was identified, it was not deemed to be commercially viable. The area is currently unlicensed for petroleum exploration.

In recent months, there has been renewed interest in the prospectivity of the North West Carboniferous Basin and last week I announced a licensing competition over the area.