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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Feb 1978

Vol. 303 No. 2

Written Answers. - Dublin Gas Leak.

342.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the background and causes of the recent serious gas leak in Amiens Street, Dublin.

I am informed by the Dublin Gas Company that the cause of the gas leak in Amiens Street last November was a fracture of an 8" gas main. The company state that the fracture was caused by road subsidence but I understand that this is disputed by the Dublin Corporation. I am informed that the incident was exceptional in that an escape of gas which, in retrospect, would be regarded as a moderate one gave rise to much dislocation in the area. A number of factors were responsible for this situation, the principal one being that at an early stage a Gas Company supervisor informed the Fire Brigade that the escape was a major one. Another factor was that the gas entered sewers and telephone ducts and was detected at points 220 yards north and 50 yards south of the actual source of escape. As a result rail and road traffic in the area was disrupted because of precautionary measures taken by the Fire Brigade and the Garda. Following the incident the company carried out a thorough investigation of its emergency procedures and hope that this will lead to improvements in the operation of the system.

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