Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 November 2015
571. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of funding the State expended on research into hydraulic fracturing, which is environmentally damaging and commercially non-viable; the results of the research in regard to the effects on human health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41700/15]
View answerWhile the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is coordinating the Joint Research Programme into the potential environmental impacts of Unconventional Gas Exploration & Extraction (UGEE), the research programme is being co-funded by the EPA, my own Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). The key questions that this Joint Research Programme, which is to be carried out over a minimum period of two years, needs to answer are:
- Can unconventional gas exploration and extraction projects and operations be carried out in the island of Ireland whilst also protecting the environment and human health? and
- What is ‘best environmental practice’ in relation to such projects and operations?
There has been considerable effort invested by the organisations managing the Joint Research Programme and the consortium engaged to carry out the research. There has been good progress made to-date. The final report will be made publically available on the EPA website once the research has been concluded. Further details on the research programme is currently available on a dedicated website www.ugeeresearch.ie.
The costs of the first phase of the Joint Research Programme were estimated at just over €1m. The three commissioning bodies committed approximately €1.25m in funding to the research project. While my own Department has committed €0.5m to the project, these funds have not been paid out as yet.
