Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the licences granted to companies to explore for methane gas using the process of hydraulic fracturing; the consultation process for residents and communities and public representatives; the situation regarding planning permission and his views regarding the problems experienced internationally with this process. [25658/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I can inform the Deputy that no company currently holds an exploration authorisation that permits exploration drilling onshore, including exploration drilling that would involve hydraulic fracturing.

In February of this year, my Department granted onshore Licensing Options to three companies over parts of the North West Carboniferous (Lough Allen) and Clare Basins. The Licensing Options are for a two year period from March 2011 to the end of February 2013.

The Licensing Options are preliminary authorisations and are different to exploration licences. The purpose of these authorisations is to allow the companies assess the natural gas potential of the acreage largely based on studies of existing data from previous petroleum exploration activity. This work is mainly office/desktop based and does not involve exploration drilling or hydraulic fracturing.

By the end of the Option period in February 2013, the companies will have to decide whether to apply for a follow-on exploration licences or relinquish their acreage. In the event that any of the companies involved decide to apply for an exploration licence that proposed the use of hydraulic fracturing, the application would have to be set out in detail and be supported by an environmental impact statement.

My Department would then undertake a full assessment of the application, including an environmental impact assessment with a public consultation phase. My Department would also consult with other relevant statutory authorities such as the EPA, NPWS, Local Authorities in reaching any decision.

Work under these Licensing Options is at an early stage and it is too soon to conclude whether or not these authorisations will proceed to the exploration licence stage let alone to anticipate a petroleum project that would require planning permission. I am aware of environmental concerns relating to hydraulic fracturing and have made clear that any future application proposing the use of this technology will be subject to an environmental impact assessment before any decision is made.