Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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258. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of applications for exploration licences his Department received, granted and refused in each of the years 2008 to 2016 to date; the number still pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16639/16]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Details of all petroleum and mineral exploration authorisations granted are published on my Department's website on a quarterly basis. In addition I am required to lay before the Oireachtas under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960, and the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999, respectively half yearly reports detailing all petroleum and mineral exploration authorisations granted during the period of the report. The last such reports were in respect of the six-month period ending 31 December 2015 and are also available on my Department’s website.

The following tables outline, in respect of both petroleum exploration licences and mineral prospecting licences, the number of applications received by my Department, the number of licences granted and the number of applications for licences refused over the last nine calendar years. They also show the number of applications currently pending.

Petroleum Exploration Licences

Mineral Prospecting Licences