Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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230. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the licencing system for mining operations at a mine (details supplied); what licences are currently issued; the frequency with which they are renewed; the process for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29621/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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A mine for a scheduled mineral in Ireland is subject to obtaining three separate State authorisations: planning permission from the relevant local authority (consent of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is required to make a valid Planning Application for such minerals); an integrated pollution control (IPC) or industrial emissions (IE) licence from the Environmental Protection Agency; and a State Mining Licence / Lease / Permission from the Minister of this Department.

All mining for scheduled minerals requires either: a State Mining Lease under the Minerals Development Act 1940-1999 for minerals in State ownership, or a State Mining Licence under the 1979 act for privately owned minerals.

A State Mining Permission can be issued for very small tonnages of State-owned minerals for limited periods of time, but this procedure is rarely used. Applicants must hold a valid Prospecting Licence or existing State Mining Facility over the area of interest to commence mining.

Boliden Tara Mines DAC hold 5 State Mining Licences (SML 2, 3, 4, 5 and 12) and 3 State Mining Leases (SML 144, 146 and 147) over the Tara deposit in Navan Co Meath. All the licences and leases were to expire on the 30 November 2024. However, the Minister continued the licences and leases in force for a further 12 months by way of supplementary indentures.

The Company has requested the renewal of its SMFs and the Geoscience Regulation Office (GSRO) has actively engaged with Boliden Tara Mines DAC, the Chief State Solicitors Office (CSSO) and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to progress this application. The GSRO is engaging with the CSSO to update the licence and lease documents, and with DPENDPDR on the royalty rates to apply to the SMLs. Both processes are well advanced.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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231. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the royalties system for a mine (details supplied); the way in which royalties are calculated and governed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29623/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Minerals Development Acts, royalties from mineral extraction are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. General legal principles require that this be a willing agreement. The terms must be fair and reasonable and not unilaterally imposed by the Minister on an ultimatum basis. Actual rates are then settled by negotiation and there is an annual minimum payment (“Dead Rent”) which merges (can be deducted from royalty payments) into the royalty. As published in the Oireachtas Report by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for the six months ended 31 December 2024, www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-environment-climate-and-communications/collections/six-monthly-reports-to-the-oireachtas-on-mineral-exploration-and-mining-in-ireland/#six-monthly-oireachtas-report-for-the-period-1-july-to-31-december-2024 the Dead Rent of the mine shall be €50,000 for the period 1st December 2024 to 30th November 2025.

The Royalties for the eight Leases and Licences are fully abated for the period 1st December 2024 to 30th November 2025.