Written answers

Wednesday, 21 March 2012

9:00 pm

Photo of Tony McLoughlinTony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 641: To ask the Minister for Health if he proposes to assess the public health implication on local residents due to test drilling for gas using hydraulic fracturing at Gubb, Glangelvin, County Cavan known as Dowra 2 and also Dowra 1 between 1963 and 2003; his views on the high incidents of cancer in Gubb townland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15232/12]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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On the specific health matters the Deputy has raised, the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) has, at my request, considered your question and has also provided some general information in relation to cancer incidence. In particular, the NCRI would point out that most variation for cancer between areas is known to be due to personal characteristics and not the external environment. Gubb, Glangelvin is located in the Derrynananta/Dunmakeever area. The figures of cancer in respect of this area and a number of surrounding areas were compared with the rates for Cavan/Leitrim and Ireland. The NCRI concluded that the results in both the local and wider areas were not statistically significant. The NCRI, in considering the range of cancers diagnosed and the age at which they are diagnosed, compared Derrynananta/Dunmakeever and the surrounding areas with Cavan/Leitrim and Ireland and there was little difference in either the cancer type or age profile of patients. There are a number of parliamentary questions in relation to this matter also due for answer today by the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources which will set out the difference between "fracturing of wells" in relation to conventional gas exploration and production and "hydraulic fracturing" in relation to exploration and production of unconventional gas. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has also confirmed to my Department that any exploration licence that proposes the use of hydraulic fracturing as part of an unconventional gas exploration programme would be subject to a full environmental impact assessment, including consideration of the impact of the project on the population, fauna, soil, water, air, and climatic landscape.

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