Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 3

Written Answers. - Fuel Pipelines.

Richard Bruton

Question:

129 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no public body which will undertake to licence or supervise the operation of fuel pipelines running through residential areas, which is in contrast to the situation in the UK; and the plans he has to address this gap in public protection. [20976/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The Minister for Public Enterprise is responsible for the licensing of gas pipelines. All other fuel pipelines are development within the meaning of the planning Acts and, therefore, need planning permission from the relevant planning authority. When a pipeline exceeds the thresholds in the First Schedule to the 1999 environmental impact assessment regulations, an EIA is also required.