Written answers

Wednesday, 28 September 2005

Department of Health and Children

Health Research

9:00 pm

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 424: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if any investigation has been carried out by her Department in the past 20 years regarding the effects of overhead power lines on human health. [25717/05]

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 433: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will consider asking that a new investigation be carried out by her Department to look at the effects of overhead power lines on human health; and if she will consider issuing guidelines to the ESB networks to avoid placing pylons next to houses or schools. [25778/05]

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 435: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department officials' attention has been drawn to studies over the past 20 years which looked at the effects of overhead power lines on human health; if any of these studies were consulted; the conclusions reached; and if officials liaised with the ESB with regard to the findings. [25780/05]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 424, 433 and 435 together.

My Department has not commissioned research with regard to the issue referred to by the Deputy and there are no proposals to do so. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources leads with regard to the health impact of the technology concerned and officials from my Department are in regular contact with their counterparts in that Department.

Extensive international research has been undertaken regarding this issue. To date, there is no conclusive evidence of a causal relationship between electromagnetic radiation from overhead power lines and ill health, however, research in this area is ongoing. The World Health Organisation, WHO, has identified a need for further research to better assess possible health risks and has established the international electromagnetic fields — EMF — project to assess the scientific evidence of possible health effects of EMF. This project brings together current knowledge and available resources of key international and national agencies and scientific institutions in order to arrive at scientifically sound recommendations for health risk assessments. Officials of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources participate in the EMF project, which I understand is in its final stages.

In the absence of conclusive evidence of a causal relationship between electromagnetic radiation and ill health, the approach adopted in Ireland is to minimise exposure in accordance with the 1999 recommendations of the European Community on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields. These recommendations are based on the 1998 guidelines of the international commission on non-ionising radiation, ICNIRP, covering the frequency range from 0-300GHz. I am advised that the ESB complies with these guidelines.

Planning issues concerning the siting of pylons and overhead power lines are matters for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the local authorities. My Department will continue to monitor developments concerning the possible health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields.

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