John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I am pleased we are discussing this issue because geography is a subject near and dear to my heart. The Minister of State touched on the educational aspect in his contribution. I was very fortunate to have an enthusiastic geography teacher, Noel Maher, principal of St. Paul's secondary school in Monasterevin, who instilled his love and regard for the subject in his students. That stays with people throughout their lives. I am glad to see the Minister of State taking the same type of enthusiastic and interested approach to this aspect of his portfolio, with a particular emphasis on bilingual engagement with schools throughout the country. It can only serve us well into the future when we work to instill an interest in geology, geography and the related sciences in young people. There are long-term economic and environmental benefits for communities from taking that approach.

There is probably something of an out of sight, out of mind situation going on when it comes to geoscientific issues, and activities in this area tend to operate below the radar. As we have seen with our water network infrastructure, things can go on unnoticed until there is a problem or crisis, by which time it is too late and the horse has bolted. I am glad to see the resources and personnel being applied by the Minister of State and his colleagues in the Department to addressing so many geological surveys, both within the island itself and in our adjacent seas. I agree with the Minister of State that these assets are the bedrock of much of our rural economy and will continue so into the future. There are, for instance, excellent prospects and targets for growth in terms of the agrifood sector. We all are aware of the plans for rapid expansion in the dairy industry. All of these plans are dependent on a safe, sustainable and secure supply of water from our water courses - rivers, streams and lakes - and our water tables. They are of profound importance to this country's economic future and social well-being.

Many communities around the country are fearful that they will find themselves between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the prospect of fracking. Will the Minister of State indicate the status of the fracking survey being conducted by the Department and the timelines surrounding it? When can we expect the scientific and geological information that will allow us to have an informed and constructive debate on this contentious issue? We do not want to be pre-emptive and take sides before we see the evidence. On the face of it, however, the reality is that we do not have the landmass of Russia or the United States. In North Dakota, for example, fracking and shale gas exploration is booming. We are a very small island and our water courses and water tables are intrinsically linked to communities and every aspect of people's lives. My view at this juncture, in light of these considerations, is that Ireland is not suited to a fracking industry.

However, the jury is still out on that question and much of it is contingent on the scientific data that will emerge from the geoscience surveys conducted by the Department. I wish the Minister of State well in his endeavours and would appreciate an insight into the status of those surveys.