Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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43. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of a licence (details supplied); when a public consultation will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9405/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The licence granted over Prospecting Licence Area 3820 is currently held by Connemara Mining Company Plc, owned by Arkle Resources Plc. and runs until the 9th April 2021.

Where a licence holder seeks to have a licence renewed, the application will be evaluated by my Department and, if deemed acceptable, an offer is made to the holder, setting out the terms and area of the prospecting licence. If the holder accepts the offer, legislation requires 21 days' notice of the Minister's intention to renew a prospecting licence and for the receipt of any submissions. My Department keeps the consultation period open for a total of 30 days' consultation period.

Notification is given through a printed notice in the newspaper that is most relevant to the prospecting licence area under consideration. The Minister’s Intention to Grant Notices is also sent for public display to the appropriate Garda station(s), local authority office(s) and the Geological Survey Ireland.

Additional information on the process of granting prospecting licences and making submissions is available online on my Department's website.