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

As I said to Deputy Murphy, when the Dáil comes back in September the publication of the report will be imminent. I know that concern has been expressed. However, the consortium that has undertaken the work includes CDM Smith, the British Geological Survey, University College Dublin, Ulster of University, Amec Foster Wheeler and Philip Lee Solicitors.

The terms of reference went out on public consultation and there was change following that public consultation. The contract award process chosen for the competition was an open procedure process. A total of six tenders were received and the contract was awarded following robust evaluation. There was an evaluation panel consisting of 27 existing and retired personnel from various respected bodies, including An Bord Pleanála, the Commission for Energy Regulation, our Department, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Health Service Executive and the Geological Survey of Ireland. There has been a wide range of expertise available and public consultation. The synthesis report will collate all the information. As I said to Deputy Murphy, this has been fast-tracked. Instead of waiting until the end of 2018 there will be a synthesis report, an interim report, published by the end of this year and that will yield many answers I am sure.

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