John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

560. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of an application for an onshore licensing option and exploration licence at Wellington Bridge in the Carrick area of County Wexford in respect of a company (details supplied) in County Carlow. [10207/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To be of assistance to the Deputy, it may be helpful to set out the background as well as the present status of the matter referred to in the question.

In May 2006 my Department received an initial application from the business referred to for a petroleum authorisation in respect of an onshore area in South County Wexford. In November 2007 a revised application was received seeking an Onshore Licensing Option and Petroleum Prospecting Licence relating to unconventional gas exploration and extraction in respect of an onshore area in South County Wexford.

In October 2008, following on correspondence and discussions between the Department and the applicant, the Department advised the applicant that the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas, Exploration, Development and Production 2007 required that applications for any petroleum authorisation are accepted from companies incorporated under the laws of a Member State of the European Union or from foreign companies, and that the application did not meet this requirement. The Department also indicated that in the event that a company was subsequently registered it would be necessary to resubmit an application and independent confirmation of the availability of sufficient funds to meet the cost of any work programme associated with the proposed petroleum authorisation.

In November 2009 the Department was advised by the applicant that it was intended to register with the Companies Registration Office in 2010.

In January 2013 a letter was received from the applicant stating that it wished to proceed with the application made in 2007.

In January 2013 the Department wrote to the applicant restating the position of October 2008, and advising that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would be undertaking a major research programme into the potential environmental impacts of onshore exploration for unconventional gas resources, and that in the light of the EPA’s research programme, no applications for petroleum exploration authorisations in respect of onshore areas will be considered, or finalised until after the EPA research has been concluded and there has been time to consider its findings.