Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the policy of his Department in relation to new mining being developed in high value nature areas and in or near Natura 2000 sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35001/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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 Licence or Lease. Similarly, if a holder of a prospecting licence wishes to carry out drilling, an application must be made in advance to me, as Minister, and the application will be screened for compliance with environmental legislation. This applies no matter where the activity is proposed. Where a company proposes to carry out work within a Natura 2000 site, I formally seek the views of the National Parks and Wildlife Service on the application.

All licencees are obliged to follow my Department's Guidelines for Mineral Exploration as part of their prospecting licence conditions. These guidelines set out, in considerable detail, standard operating procedures to avoid damage or pollution.

I will shortly be publishing a draft policy statement for consultation on mineral exploration and mining. This will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to inform the development of policy in this area. The draft policy statement will include a significant focus on how we can maintain and improve the sustainability of mineral exploration and mining, and on the role of minerals in supporting technologies that will help achieve our decarbonisation targets.