Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2015
20. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the study under way on hydraulic fracturing; if he will re-affirm that no policy decisions on licensing will be considered until the study is complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16214/15]
View answerAs has been outlined to this House on a number of occasions, no decision will be made on any application proposing the use of hydraulic fracturing, as part of an unconventional gas exploration or extraction project, until there has been time to consider the outcome of a major research programme, directed at examining the potential environmental and human health impacts of hydraulic fracturing, which has been commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The key questions that this research programme which is to be carried out over a minimum period of two years is required to answer are:
1. Can unconventional gas exploration and extraction projects and operations be carried out on the island of Ireland whilst also protecting the environment and human health?
2. What is ‘best environmental practice’ in relation to such projects and operations?
To this end this scientific research programme is based on the consideration of existing baseline data with respect to groundwater, air and seismicity and the potential implications and mitigations that are required to be considered in order to understand the possible environmental impacts of using this technology. Additionally this research programme will draw on the experiences and recommendations of other countries, both those where this technology is permitted and those where it is not, in coming to a recommendation as to whether or not it can be undertaken in an environmentally protective manner in accordance with the requirements of environmental law.
The research is being undertaken by a consortium of independent organisations comprising CDM Smith, the British Geological Survey, University College Dublin, Ulster University, Queens University Belfast, AMEC Foster Wheeler and Philip Lee Solicitors. The project began in August 2014 and is scheduled to be complete in July 2016.
I can again confirm that no decision will be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing, as part of any unconventional gas exploration and extraction programme until the EPA research has concluded and there has been time to consider its findings.
I can also confirm that I have received a further update report from the EPA which sets out in detail the specific tasks being undertaken by the consultancy consortium pursuant to each of the component projects, together with the status of these tasks.
I am happy to share this detailed update and I have made arrangements to have it published on my Department's website.
