Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of tonnes of zinc that has been mined here per annum on average over the past ten years; the amount this zinc has been worth to the Irish economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20795/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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During the period 2002 to 2011, an average of 382,000 tonnes of zinc metal, in concentrate, was produced in Irish mines. Mine operators pay royalties to the State based on the tonnage of extracted ore on foot of State mining facilities (leases and licences), the details of which are laid before the Oireachtas twice yearly under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999.

The most recent economic study of the impact of the geoscience sector in Ireland prepared for the GSI in 2007, "Geoscience: Gaining ground", included a profile of the mining industry in 2006. The report calculated the turnover of €316.5 million, the gross value added (GVA is defined as gross domestic sales less gross industrial costs, that is, the value added by both labour and capital),as being €235.6 million and employment of 1250 jobs for base metal mining. As the price of metals can vary considerably, the Department intends to update the assessment, to calculate the value of the minerals exploration and mining sector to the Irish economy, with a view in part to determining if and how this can be increased in the future. It is intended to commence this project later this year.