Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 585: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if any investigation has been carried out by his Department in the past 20 years looking at the effects of overhead power lines on human health; and if any instruction has been issued to the ESB in relation to the siting of pylons and overhead powerlines. [25781/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 586: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will consider issuing guidelines to the ESB networks to avoid placing pylons next to houses or schools. [25782/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 587: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the policy in other countries including the USA and Sweden, of routing lines underground when near schools or housing estates, in view of the findings of internationals studies regarding the health effects on persons of living in close proximity to overhead power lines and pylons. [25783/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 585, 586 and 587 together.

My Department carried out an investigation in 1988 specifically on the effects of overhead power lines on human health. The results of the investigation were published in the report, Electromagnetic fields from High Voltage transmission lines, to Deputy Michael Smith, former Minister for Energy, on 25 November 1988. The results of a follow-up investigation were published in the report, Electromagnetic fields, a review of recent developments in Research and Public Attitudes and the response of Authorities to these Developments, to Mr. Robert Molloy, former Minister for Energy, on 10 September 1992.

The siting of pylons and overhead power lines is an operational matter, in the first instance for the ESB. The ESB complies with the most up-to-date international electromagnetic fields guidelines and recommendations, in its operations. Ireland has adopted European Union Council recommendation of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields — 0 Hz to 300 GHz, 1999/519/EC — and the guidelines established by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection, ICNIRP, and participates in the work of the International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety, which sets standards in this area. The siting of pylons and overhead power lines must also comply with the requirements of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1927 and subsequent amending Acts. Planning decisions in regard to limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields — 0 Hz to 300 GHz, 1999/519/EC — and the guidelines established by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection, ICNIRP, participates in the work of the International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety, which sets standards in this area. The siting of pylons and overhead power lines must also comply with the requirements of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1927 and subsequent amending Acts. Planning decisions in regard to the siting of pylons and overhead power lines are a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage, and Local Government and the relevant local authority. I have no plans at present to issue guidelines to the ESB networks in relation to the siting of pylons and overhead power lines. The ESB, where appropriate, routes lines underground.

As part of its charter to protect public health and in response to public concern over health effects of electromagnetic fields exposure, the World Health Organisation established the International EMF project in 1996 to assess the scientific evidence of possible health effects of EMF in the frequency range from 0 to 300 GHz. Ireland is a member of the international advisory committee of the EMF project which encourages focused research to fill important gaps in knowledge and to facilitate the development of internationally acceptable standards limiting EMF exposure. One of the principal reasons for the establishment of the EMF project was to specifically address the possible health effects of overhead power lines and pylons. The International EMF project is now in its final stages and it is expected that the environmental health criteria report in this regard will be published by the World Health Organisation in 2006.