Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2015
58. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of research directed at examining the potential environmental and human health impacts of hydraulic fracturing commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency; the position of the Government on hydraulic fracturing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44812/15]
View answerAs I have advised previously, the all-island Joint Research Programme (JRP) which is being administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and co-funded by the EPA, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency into the potential impacts from Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction (UGEE) on the environment and human health is on-going.
It is anticipated that the outcomes of this research programme will be published once the Steering Group, appointed to manage this programme, makes its recommendation.
There has been good progress made on the programme to date which is evident from the updates published by the EPA on its website.
I would like once again to confirm that no application to engage in UGEE has been received in my Department, nor would any such application, if submitted, be considered until the research programme has concluded and there has been time to consider its findings.
