Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for her question. As she will be aware, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has commissioned a research programme into the potential impacts of unconventional gas exploration and extraction on the environment and human health. It should be noted that the draft terms of reference for this programme were the subject of a public consultation process which resulted in an amended and strengthened scope for the programme, including a key recommendation that the potential impacts from unconventional gas exploration and extraction on human health be considered as part of the project.

In this regard, the tender documents refer specifically to potential health impacts deriving from impacts on environment parameters, including exposure to chemicals, vibration, light and noise as well as the potential pollution of environmental parameters such as soils, air and water. The experience in other countries in this regard will be considered as well with a view to making recommendations towards developing a protocol in an island-of-Ireland context.

However, I emphasise that any requirement for a health impact assessment into unconventional gas exploration and extraction would only arise if an application to carry out a development proposing the use of this technology were being considered. As I have advised Deputy Murphy previously, no application to engage in unconventional gas exploration 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. It is anticipated that a synthesis report concluding on the findings of the research programme to date will be published by the end of this year. Any policy decision will be taken in the context of the objective of achieving a low-carbon energy system by 2050.

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