Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the level of exploration or appraisal or development work that has been done on the Irish shelf since the award of the last licensing round; the level of activity expected in the next 24 months and if this activity will include the establishment of on-shore infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48077/12]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Thirteen licensing options were awarded in November 2011 under the 2011 Licensing Round. There are currently eighteen exploration licences, seventeen licensing options and five petroleum prospecting licences extant in respect of exploration in the Irish offshore.

All authorisations granted are subject to the carrying out of agreed work programmes. While work programmes in respect of licensing options are mainly of a desk-study nature, work programmes in respect of exploration licences include seismic surveys and drilling operations.

Since November 2011 the Barryroe appraisal well in the Celtci Sea was the only well drilled in the Irish offshore.

While my Department has not yet received any applications for drilling operations in 2013 and 2014, I understood that plans are being advanced for in the order of three to five wells.

In relation to seismic surveys 130 kms² of 3D seismic was acquired since 1 November 2011 and while my Department has not yet received applications for the shooting of seismic surveys over the next two years it is anticipated that in the region of 800km² of 3D seismic and 1800km² of 2D seismic will be acquired.

Given that no new discovery has been declared as a “commercial discovery” since the Corrib Gas Field was discovered in 1996, there are no other plans for new onshore infrastructure at this point in time.

Works in relation to the development of the Corrib Gas Field is ongoing with the principal remaining element being the onshore pipeline. It is estimated that construction of the onshore section of the pipeline, including the construction of a 5km tunnel, will take in the region of three years. First gas cannot therefore reasonably be anticipated before 2014.