Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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85. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he plans to continue to issue prospecting and mining licences for minerals in or near Natura 2000 sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25014/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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All applications for prospecting licences are subject to environmental screening which takes into account designated sites including Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, Natural Heritage Areas, Nature Reserves and National Parks to ensure that such sites are not impacted by prospecting activities.

A prospecting licence relates to the activity of prospecting (exploring) for minerals only and does not give the licence holder permission to mine.

There are currently no applications for State Mining Licenses or Leases with my Department. Any potential mining activity is subject to a number of separate and independent statutory consents; planning permission, an Integrated Pollution Control or Industrial Emissions licence and finally an application for a State Mining Licenses or Lease.