Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has or will consult with Bord Gais with a view to putting in place a leak assessment service for those customers who live in homes who are affected or may be affected by pyrite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27564/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the statutorily independent body charged with all aspects of the regulation of the natural gas market. A key responsibility of the CER is to promote the safety of natural gas for customers and the public generally.

The CER's remit now also includes specific responsibility for natural gas safety. The Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 empowered the CER to regulate from a safety perspective undertakings involved in gas transmission, distribution, storage, supply and shipping. The CER has established a natural gas safety regulatory framework, including a system for the audit and inspection of natural gas transmission and distribution pipeline safety systems.

The CER places obligations on undertakings to ensure that any safety risks associated with their operations are reduced to as low as reasonably practicable. Bord Gáis Éireann's (BGÉ) transmission and distribution operations are subjected to ongoing audit and inspection by the CER. Additionally, BGÉ reports quarterly to the CER on a comprehensive range of safety performance indicators to verify that all operations are in compliance with the overall natural gas regulatory framework.

Safety is BGÉ's first priority and the company is committed to ongoing development and maintenance of the gas networks and systems to ensure safety and to deliver continuous safety improvement and performance. Systems are in place to deal with gas leaks and to advise the public and all gas customers on the steps to be taken in the event that they smell gas. BGÉ's continuous programme of safety promotion also includes the Gas Efficiency Service, the Dial before you Dig Service, promotion of Registered Gas Installers and public awareness of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide. Since its establishment BGÉ has developed and modernised a national gas distribution pipeline network of nearly 11,000 kilometres and a gas transmission pipeline network of over 2,000 kilometres as well as the two Interconnectors with Scotland. There are over 640,000 gas users in Ireland. BGÉ operates the Networks in compliance with recognised Irish and international quality and safety standards.

In this context, Bord Gais Networks (BGN) has been liaising with the Pyrite Action Group and the Pyrite Panel over the last number of months. BGN continues to monitor the performance and reliability of its Network associated with the supply of Natural Gas to all currently identified 'Pyrite-affected' housing estates. To date BGN has seen no increase in leakage occurrences associated with these estates.

BGE advised that the internal gas pipework in a domestic house will have been installed by an installer engaged by the house builder/owner. Since June 2009 such installers must, by law, be registered with the Register of Gas Installers of Ireland. BGN requires the provision of a 'Certificate of Conformance' signed by the installer before a gas meter can be fitted and natural gas supplied to the premises.

Maintenance of the gas installation is the responsibility of the premises owner. BGN in its safety advice to customers recommends the annual servicing of gas appliances and in particular that regular safety checks of the gas installation are carried out by a Registered Gas Installer.

I have every confidence in BGÉ's priority commitment to safety and its safety and emergency response service. There is never room for complacency however, and BGÉ itself is engaged in a constant process of safety review and enhancement working with CER.