Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gcoiste as ucht an cuireadh chuig an gcruinniú seo.

The EPA-sponsored survey involves many stakeholders in Northern Ireland, as well as the Department. It is in the process of being carried out and due for publication, possibly in mid-2016. On the question of how much it will cost, we have in mind a figure in the order of €1 million. Importantly, the consultation process did not just consider the potential environmental health impact but also the human health impact. Many of the submissions received, including from Deputy Michael Colreavy's part of the world in counties Sligo, Leitrim and Cavan, asked for there to be someone on the group with a health competency. I am delighted that there is someone on it with that expertise, as the survey's two major pillars will be to consider the environmental and health impacts.

Stemming from a number of public meetings that we held in Sligo last summer, I also asked for some feedback during the process, instead of having to wait two years for the results. I am delighted that there is a dedicated information-sharing website. We will be able to furnish the Deputy with the details. I am also hoping for a mid-term review to be carried out in whatever form in a couple of weeks time.

Regarding petroleum, a number of initiatives are ongoing. The Department's expenditure is on promotion because we need to get companies interested. Thankfully, there is momentum within the industry, given the new Atlantic licensing round that will close in 2015. We will not be in a position to say how real the momentum is until the close of the round on the Atlantic margins, but the feedback from companies has been steady. After decades, there have only been four finds, but we must consider the geography of what is available to us. In a European perspective, Ireland is the fourth largest country if the undersea landmass off the south and south-west coasts is included. Ireland is larger than Germany, although not as large as Portugal, France and Spain. The Department is focusing a great deal of its energy on this front, particularly via the Geological Survey of Ireland and the INFOMAR project. The large amount of research involved is being undertaken at considerable expense. There is a partnership between the Government and industry, with the main tenets being transparency, openness and accountability, but the undersea landmass available to us has resource potential.

Reverting to the contribution of unconventional systems of extraction and exploration on land and without undermining the independence of the EPA-sponsored analysis, we have a great deal of territory under the sea that can be explored. Obviously, it will depend on companies' exploratory finds. The Minister has specific responsibility for the Corrib field. I hope the first gas supply will start towards the end of the second quarter of this year. In terms of our reliance on fossil fuels, we import 100% of our oil and 95% of our gas. With the new Corrib gas supply coming on stream in mid-2015, we could meet as much as 42% of our own gas needs.