Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent if any to which oil, gas or other mineral exploration onshore and offshore have shown positive or commercially viable results in each of the past three years to date in 2012; the number of exploration projects activated in that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2825/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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There have been no new commercial discoveries of oil and gas in the Irish on and offshore in the past three years. The only petroleum discovery in recent years that has been declared commercial but has yet to be developed is the Corrib Gas Field.

With regard to non-petroleum minerals there is a total of five hundred and fifty-eight active mineral Prospecting Licences. Details of these Licences can be found in the six-monthly report to the Oireachtas, which the Minister is obliged to lay before the House under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999. These reports are also made available on my Department's website. While no new commercially viable deposits of minerals have been discovered in recent years, there have been some encouraging results.

The table sets out the position in relation to the number of mineral prospecting and petroleum exploration authorisations granted in each of the past three years to date.

Authorisations Granted during period 2009 - 2012