Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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372. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding applications with his Department for a wind farm in Dublin Bay and oil/gas drilling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39724/13]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Whilst there are no petroleum authorisations extant in respect of Dublin Bay, there are two authorisations in respect of areas in the nearby Kish Bank, namely: Standard Exploration Licence SEL2/11 held by Providence Resources Plc; and Licensing Option LO10/2 held by Albativ Resources Ltd. My Department is not in receipt of a drilling proposal in respect of either of these authorisations.

In relation to wind farms, statutory responsibility with regard to planning consents rests with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. As I have no role with regard to the independent process through which applications for planning permissions for renewable energy installations are considered, my Department does not deal with such applications.