Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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325. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of oil, gas or other exploration licences issued in each of the past ten years to date; the number of such licences already activated; the extent to which viable discoveries has been documented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12188/14]

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 2004 and 2014 are set out in the table.

Licences granted during period 2004 – 2014 (to 5 March 2014)

All licences granted have been activated and there have been no declared commercial discoveries in respect of these licences in the last ten years. Details of all Prospecting Licences (Minerals) and Petroleum Exploration Licences can be found in the six-monthly reports to the Oireachtas, which I am obliged to lay before the Houses under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999 and the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960 respectively. The last such reports were in respect of the six-month period ending 31 December 2013. These reports are also available on my Department’s website at .