Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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585. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the uptake of exploration licences in each year from 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6066/17]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960 and the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999, I am required to lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas half yearly reports detailing all petroleum and mineral exploration and development authorisations granted during the period of the report. The last such report under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960 (petroleum authorisations) was in respect of the six-month period ending 30 June 2016, with the report for six-month period ending 31 December 2016 expected to be completed shortly. The last report under the Minerals Development Acts (mineral authorisations) was in respect of the six month period ending 31 December 2016. These reports are also available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie.

In addition details of all petroleum and mineral exploration and development authorisations granted are published on my Department's website on a quarterly basis.

The table below outlines, in respect of petroleum exploration licences and mineral prospecting licences, the number of licences granted from 2008 to date.