Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the current status of the proposed prospecting at Doora, County Clare, by a company (details supplied) [53110/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I am advised that there are eleven Prospecting Licences currently held in County Clare by Lundin Mining Exploration Ltd. Prospecting area No 3787 includes the Gorteen (Electoral District of Doora) area and other townlands in the Bunratty Upper Barony (an area of 39.53 km²). The licence for this area has been held since June 1994 and covers exploration for base metals (lead and zinc), barytes, silver, calcite and fluorite. Reports submitted by the company and assessed by Departmental geologists merited a number of extensions to the licence since 1994.

The licence was due for renewal again in 2012 and in this regard, the notice of intention to grant a Prospecting Licence was published in July last. The advertisement signalled the opportunity to lodge objections to the renewal of the licence with the Minister. No objections were received and the licence was renewed until 7 June 2014.

On the basis of the most recent quarterly public statements by Lundin Mining Exploration Ltd. on its website, a review and full integration of all of the exploration data will be done for the Clare Project to better understand the structure and mineralization. I understand, therefore, that considerably more work needs to be carried out before the likelihood of a commercial prospect is determined.