Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when it is expected that all oil, gas or other mineral discoveries on and offshore are likely to become available for commercial purposes with particular reference to those areas that have shown discoveries of commercial value but not yet developed or available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38053/10]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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There have been a number of discoveries of oil and gas in the Irish Offshore in recent years, however none of these has been declared commercial to date. The only petroleum discovery that has been declared commercial but has yet to be developed is the Corrib Gas Field. Construction of the Corrib Gas Terminal at Bellanaboy is almost completed as are the subsea facilities and the offshore section of the Corrib gas pipeline. The developers are engaged in the process of securing a number of statutory consents required for the construction of the onshore section of the gas pipeline. Completion of the development works by the developers is the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas. No new commercially viable deposits of minerals have been discovered in recent years; however, there have been some encouraging results.