Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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407. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which oil, gas or other mineral exploration licences have been issued in each of the past ten years to date; the actual legislation applicable in respect of those currently operational, pending or concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25281/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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409. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of mineral exploration licences awarded annually in each of the past ten years to date; the extent to which they have each been activated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25283/14]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 409 together.

The number of Mineral Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences granted in each year between 2004 and 2014 are set out in the following 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.

The principal legislation applicable to these licences is the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999 and the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960. There is a broad body of other legislation that also applies including environmental legislation, which applies to activities across many sectors, along with the Petroleum Safety Act which applies specifically to designated petroleum exploration and production activities.

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 .