Ireland’s latest gov.ie publication records a series of environmental screening determinations and decisions linked to mineral exploration activities. Updated on 5 October 2026 by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, the register provides information on exploration drilling, sampling, mapping and prospecting across several prospecting licence areas.
The decisions show how proposed activities are assessed under environmental and European nature-protection requirements before consent is granted. They also offer a transparent record for communities, landowners, companies and public bodies monitoring mineral exploration in Ireland.
gov.ie environmental screening decisions: what the latest register shows
The most recent entries concern activities by Boliden Tara Mines DAC and Glencore Zinc Ireland Ltd. Both companies received determinations for exploration drilling, with the relevant assessments concluding that the projects were not likely to significantly affect a European Site. Consent was granted for the specified prospecting activities after the relevant environmental assessments and determinations were considered.
Other recent entries involve:
- Raptor Resources Ltd and motorised deep overburden sampling;
- Group Eleven Mining and Exploration Limited and individual exploration drillholes;
- Viridian Metals Ireland Ltd, Minco Ireland Ltd and Shanoon Resources Ltd;
- LRH Resources Ltd and mapping and prospecting activities.
The register includes prospecting licence areas such as 4502, 3647, 3319, 3421, 449 and 1324, alongside the company, activity, notice date and outcome of the environmental review.
How the assessments are recorded
The table distinguishes between several related decisions. An Appropriate Assessment, or AA, screening determination considers whether a proposed activity could affect a European Site. An Environmental Impact Assessment, or EIA, determination considers whether the project could have significant environmental effects and whether further assessment is required.
For a number of entries, the Department determined that the activity did not have the potential for significant effects on a European Site and was not likely to have a significant effect on the environment. In some of the newest cases, it also stated that a separate EIA screening determination was not required.
Why these mineral exploration notices matter
Environmental screening is an important part of Ireland’s regulatory framework. It helps identify potential impacts before exploration work proceeds, while publishing the decisions supports public access to official information.
The register may be relevant to residents, environmental groups, planning professionals, investors and agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), An Bord Pleanála and local authorities. It should not be confused with approval for commercial mining: an exploration determination relates to the specific activity and licence area described in the notice.
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What the public can check on gov.ie
Readers reviewing the official publication can compare decisions by date, licence area, company and activity. The page also retains earlier notices, including decisions issued during 2025 and 2026 for drilling programmes, revised work programmes and prospecting surveys.
Because the register is updated over time, the latest version should be consulted for the current status of a particular proposal. Anyone seeking detailed information about a specific licence should use the notice date and PL area as reference points when contacting the relevant Department.
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Frequently asked questions
What is an AA screening determination?
It is an assessment of whether a plan or project could have significant effects on a European Site, either alone or alongside other plans or projects.
Does an environmental screening decision authorise mining?
No. The notices concern specified prospecting or exploration activities. They do not, by themselves, authorise a full mining operation.
Where can the official decisions be found?
The determinations and decisions are published on the relevant gov.ie page maintained by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.
Bottom line: The latest gov.ie register shows that mineral exploration proposals are being reviewed through AA and EIA screening processes, with published decisions helping the public understand how environmental considerations shape exploration consent in Ireland.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
