Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he expects to receive the independent review of the design of the proposed Corrib onshore gas pipeline; if he has the authority to refuse further consent for the development if this review raises concerns about the proximity of the pipeline to houses; the reason the pipeline has a design capacity of carrying gas at pressures at up to 345 bar when the operators of the Corrib field insist that gas pressures from the field will never be greater than 150 bar. [34536/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Following representations made during the consultation period, my technical advisory group proposed, and I agreed, that Advantica, the consultants who are undertaking the review on my behalf, should undertake additional work related to the geo-technical behaviour of peat in the context of the planned pipeline route. The consultants are currently undertaking this additional work and, as of today, I do not have a precise date for the submission of their draft report. I can, however, state that it will be available before the end of the month. I have the authority to withhold consents not already granted, provided I have sound reasons for so doing.

The well head shut-in pressure is 345 bar. I understand that the initial normal operating pressure of the upstream, onshore section of the pipeline could be up to 150 bar. The maximum design pressure of the pipeline is set at 345 bar to ensure the safety of the pipeline in the extremely unlikely event that the various valves and chokes were to fail. The consultants undertaking the safety review will determine which pressure figure they deem appropriate as the basis for design safety calculations.