Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
170 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself with the steps being taken to modernise and upgrade the domestic gas distribution network; when all cast iron pipes will be replaced; if he will consider alerting members of the public living in those areas where cast iron pipes are still in use of the need for extra vigilance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5822/04]
View answerIn the first instance it is an operational matter for Bord Gáis Éireann, BGE, under the supervision of the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, to arrange the safety of its natural gas network and this includes works to upgrade the network or to replace cast iron pipes. I am aware that gas safety is a high priority for BGE.
BGE has an ongoing programme to replace all cast iron mains with polyethylene pipe within the next ten years. The network at present consists of 8,000 km of which over 85% or 6,800 km is polyethylene. When BGE took over the networks of the former town gas companies, there were 3,000 km of cast iron mains.
Following the Raglan House explosion in the mid 1980s, BGE followed a strategy to replace all cast iron pipes greater than four inches diameter or serving buildings of four or more storeys. This programme was completed well within the scheduled ten years. All other cast iron mains have been subject to replacement in pace with roadworks, building redevelopment and new construction.
The report of the independent investigation of the Rathfarnham explosion of 2 November 2003 was published by the CER on 25 November 2003 and the commissioner provided my Department with a copy on that day. Among the recommendations in the report, all of which were accepted by the commissioner, was that BGE should put in place a parallel programme of cast iron mains replacement in areas where the ground was known to be liable to subsidence. In the report, the investigator noted that BGE had already commissioned work to assess the vulnerability of its cast iron network to poor ground conditions.
Another of the recommendations was that BGE report its progress in meeting the recommendations, to the CER, within three months. I understand that BGE and the CER are in close touch with each other in this and allied safety matters and that the cast iron pipe replacement programme is under review.
As regards advice to gas users and their neighbours, I would remind them that gas, although a clean and efficient fuel, must be treated with care and to follow the gas industry's safety advice: to report all suspected leaks, not to risk sparks or open flames in a suspected area and to ensure that only suitably qualified personnel install and maintain gas appliances. It will be noted that BGE has a strong safety awareness campaign under way at present.
