Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which oil, gas or other exploration licences have issued on an annual basis over the past five years; the extent, if any, to which commercially viable sources have been identified on or offshore; if recent findings have indicated more positive results than in the past; when he expects to receive confirmation in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53275/12]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The number of Mineral Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences granted in each year between 1January 2008 and to date in 2012 are set out in the following table:

Licences Granted during period 2008 – 2012

While there have been no new commercial discoveries of oil and gas in the Irish onshore and offshore in the past five years the drilling of an appraisal well in the Barryroe prospect in the Celtic Sea has shown encouraging results. More work will be required to determine if the discovery is actually commercial and it is not clear at this stage how long this process will take. The only petroleum discovery in recent years that has been declared commercial but has yet to be developed is the Corrib Gas Field.

While no new commercially viable deposits of minerals have been discovered recently, there have been some encouraging results, particularly in Counties Limerick and Clare. However, it is too early to determine whether these results will lead to identification of commercially viable deposits or to estimate the economic benefits that might accrue.

Details of all exploration licences can be found in the six-monthly reports to the Oireachtas, which I am obliged to lay before the Houses under the Petroleum and other Minerals Development Act 1960 and Minerals Development Acts 1940 to 1999, respectively. These reports are also available on the Department’s website at: http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Natural/Petroleum+Affairs+Division/Acreage+and+Activity+Reports/

and http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Natural/Exploration+and+Mining+Division/Oireachtas+Reports/