Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total number of oil, gas other mineral explorations in each of the past ten years to date in 2011; the number deemed commercial or viable; the number of licences issued but not activated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11084/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The number of Mineral Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences granted in each year between 2001 and 2011 are set out in the table.

Exploration under the petroleum licences is ongoing and while there have been a number of new finds of oil and gas in the Irish Offshore in the past 10 years, none of these have been declared commercial to date. Sixteen of the twenty-five petroleum exploration licences granted during the period are still active.

No Prospecting Licences issued in the last ten years have resulted in the discovery of economic mineral deposits resulting in new mining developments. All prospecting Licences once issued are deemed to be active.