Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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70. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on all applications for exploration licences that have been received by his Department; the indications he has of upcoming applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49101/17]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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A report is compiled and laid before the Oireachtas by my Department every six months, which sets out details of State Mining Leases, State Mining Licences and Prospecting Licences and the total amount of all moneys collected under or by virtue of any such Lease or Licence or otherwise in connection with the minerals.  These reports are available in the Library of the Houses of the Oireachtas and on my Department’s website at .

There are currently 611 active Prospecting Licences (PLs) in Ireland.

In 2017, 56 PL applications have been received to date. It is not possible to indicate the number of applications that may be received in the future as this is dependent on a number of variables, including the market sentiment and the areas available for licensing.