To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail what what considerations she gave to the environment when approving mineral prospecting licence applications (i) CA1/25; (ii) CA3/25; (iii) DGA3/25; (iv) DG4A/25; (v) KDRA1/25; (vi) KDRA4/25; and (vii) OMA4/25.

My Department assessed each Mineral Prospecting Licence application to identify and consider the potential environmental impacts on the protected sites and their qualifying features within each proposed licence area. The result of that assessment for each of the seven applications was made available to help inform the public consultation process.

Once a licence is in place, a Licensee is required to inform the Department of any exploration activity that it proposes to undertake. My Department, as the recognised Competent Authority, undertakes the necessary environmental assessments in line with the requirements of the Habitats and Birds Directives and associated domestic legislation, namely the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 (as amended), The Environment Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 and the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 and where appropriate, in consultation with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

A Licensee is required to obtain additional appropriate permissions from other regulatory authorities including, but not limited to, Local Councils, Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and the Health & Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI). This cross-Departmental legislative framework aims to protect the natural heritage and minimise environmental impact of exploration activities.