A total of 14 new Licensing Options in the Irish offshore are to be offered after the conclusion of the first phase of awards in the 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round.

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Joe McHugh, said this phase of awards focuses on an area in the southern Porcupine Basin, where a number of applications included commitments to acquire new seismic surveys later this year.

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Minister Mc Hugh said: "The response to the Round has been extremely positive, with 43 applications for Licensing Options received by the deadline of September 2015.

"This is by far the largest number of applications received in any licensing round held in the Irish offshore. At a time of very low oil prices the strong interest in the Round is very positive."

(CD/MH)