In the first instance, it is an operational matter for Bord Gáis Éireann, BGÉ, 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.
BGÉ 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 BGÉ 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, BGÉ 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 road works building redevelopment and new construction.
The report of the independent investigation of the Rathfarnham explosion on 2 November 2003 was published by 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 BGÉ 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 BGÉ had already commissioned work to assess the vulnerability of its cast iron network to poor ground conditions.
Another of the recommendations is that BGÉ report its progress in meeting the recommendations to CER within three months. I understand that BGÉ and CER are in close touch with each other on this and allied safety matters.
As regards advice to gas users and their neighbours, I 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.
