Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the process the Environmental Protection Agency will now follow subsequent to the closing of submissions for the terms of reference of the next report on fracking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15813/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has indicated that it will issue a public call later this year inviting interested parties to submit tenders relating to detailed research on the use of Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction in Ireland, in particular with regard to the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) technology. In this regard, proposed terms of reference for the study have been developed by a Steering Group, which includes representatives from the EPA and my Department, amongst others. These were the subject of a Public Consultation Process which was undertaken at the beginning of this year and which closed on 8 March. I understand that over a 1,000 submissions were received under this process and these are currently being examined by the Steering Group. Once the terms of reference have been finalised, it is anticipated that following the engagement of the relevant experts, the study will take in excess of twelve months to complete, leading to a potential publication date in 2015.