Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on concerns that have been expressed regarding the type of mining known as fracking, which it is proposed to use at Lough Allen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14443/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Earlier this year, my Department granted onshore Petroleum Licensing Options to three companies over parts of the North West Carboniferous and the Clare Basins. The Licensing Options specifically exclude exploration drilling but may include shallow geological sampling. The options are designed to allow the companies to assess the natural gas potential of their acreage largely based on desktop studies of existing data from previous petroleum exploration activity.

Exploration activity under these authorisations is at an early stage and there is no certainty that it will lead to applications for follow-on exploration licences that would be required before exploration wells could be drilled. In the event hydraulic fracturing was envisaged as part of a possible future exploration or production programme, then that activity would be subject to an environmental impact assessment, including an appropriate public consultation phase.