Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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609. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of a licence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37088/18]

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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610. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the drilling being carried out in the Porcupine Basin by a company (details supplied) relates to oil as per the licence or a well; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37089/18]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 609 and 610 together.

Successful exploration in Ireland’s offshore has the potential to deliver benefits to Irish society and the economy, particularly in terms of enhanced security of supply and reduced fossil fuel imports, fiscal return, national and local economic development and technology learning.

Since exploration began in the Irish offshore, four commercial gas discoveries have been made: Kinsale Head, Ballycotton, Seven Heads and Corrib. There have been no commercial discoveries of oil to date.

No wells have been drilled, or are expected to be drilled in the Irish Offshore in 2018. My Department is not currently in receipt of a consent application to drill.

On 11 July 2017, approval to drill an exploratory well within Block 53/6-A in the southern Porcupine Basin off the south west coast was granted to Providence Resources Plc as operator of Frontier Exploration Licence 2/14. Drilling commenced on 13 July 2017 and the well was plugged on 19 September 2017. The well did not result in a find of oil or gas. Operatorship of the Licence subsequently transferred to Total E&P Ireland BV.

Providence Resources Plc currently operates a single licence in the Porcupine Basin, Frontier Exploration Licence 6/14. The term of the Licence is from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2029.

Providence Resources Plc holds a minority interest in, but does not operate, Licensing Option 16/27 and Frontier Exploration Licences 2/14, 2/04, 3/04, 4/08, all located in the Porcupine Basin.

Petroleum exploration authorisations, including Licensing Options and Exploration Licences, enable the holder to explore for oil and gas generally and are not specific to oil or gas.

Under Section 57 of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960 half yearly reports detailing all petroleum authorisations granted during the period of the report are required to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. These reports are also made available on my Department’s website. The last such report published was in respect of the six-month period ending 30 June 2018.