The Department may give grants for mineral exploration in Northern Ireland, but only within the Article’s limits.
Mineral Exploration (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 This Order may be cited as the Mineral Exploration (Northern Ireland) Order 1979. Commencement The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly. In this Order— “the Department” means the Department of Commerce; “minerals” has the same meaning as in the Mineral Development Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 other than scheduled substances within the meaning of that Act. Subject to the provisions of this Article, the Department may contribute, by way of grant, towards expenditure incurred by any person in searching for, or discovering and testing, minerals in Northern Ireland. No grant shall be made under this Article towards expenditure on any operation, unless the Department is satisfied that planning permission under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 for that operation has been obtained or that it is unnecessary to obtain it. No grant shall be made under this Article towards any expenditure which exceeds 35 per cent. of that expenditure; but a grant may be made on such terms and conditions as the Department thinks fit to impose (including terms providing for repayment in whole or in part of the amount of the grant, with or without interest or an addition in lieu of interest, or for the giving of security for the performance of any of the terms or conditions). The aggregate amount of grants made under this Article shall not exceed £1,000,000 or such greater amount as the Department, with the consent of the Department of Finance, may specify by order made subject to affirmative resolution. The Department shall cause to be prepared and laid before the Assembly an annual report on the operation of this Article and that report may be prepared and laid before the Assembly as part of the annual statement required by section 50(1) of the Mineral Development Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 . 1954 c.33 1969 c.35 Words in art. 3(2) substituted (13.2.2015 for specified purposes), 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in operation) by Planning Act (Northern-Ireland) 2011 (c. 25), s. 254(1)(2), Sch. 6 para. 24 (with s. 211); S.R. 2015/49, art. 2, 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2 (as amended (16.3.2016) by S.R. 2016/159, art. 2))