Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of persons employed to carry out inspections (details supplied) in schemes or agencies under his remit. [20837/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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There are no persons employed to carry out inspections in the Electricity and Gas Regulation Division, Communications Policy Division or the Postal Division in my Department. The management of persons employed to carry out inspections by the Commission for Energy Regulation, the Commission for Communications Regulation and An Post are day to day operational matters for them. As my Department does not hold the relevant details, I will request that the agencies involved reply directly to the Deputy with the information sought.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of persons primarily employed in the issuing of licences (details supplied) in agencies or schemes under his remit. [20848/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My Department does not hold the relevant details. I will request that the bodies involved reply directly to the Deputy with the information sought. The deployment and management of persons in issuing licences by the Commission for Energy Regulation, and in the issuing of licences by the bodies mentioned by the Deputy, are day to day operational matters for the bodies concerned.

Prospecting Licences, in respect of minerals exploration, and State Mining Leases/Licences, are processed by the Exploration and Mining Division of my Department. The 10 full time and one part time staff of this Division also deal with relevant policy, legislation and regulatory issues, as well as the promotion of Ireland as a target for minerals exploration.

The Mining Board is a body established under the Minerals Development Acts 1940 to 1999, to adjudicate on various matters prescribed under those Acts. The board has no responsibility for issuing licences.