Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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23. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 67 and 68 of 11 June 2013, his views on whether any lapse in standards for the depth of a high pressure gas main at a depth of 1.2 m would be a very serious matter and one which should be of concern to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35079/13]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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29. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will request Bord Gáis Éireann to explain why it is placing a high pressure gas main at a depth of 1.2 m along main residential areas in Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35078/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 29 together.

The Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Parliamentary Questions raised by him on this issue that this is an operational matter for Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE). The company operates in accordance with the safety framework established by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which has statutory responsibility for gas safety. In addition, in accordance with section 39A of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, the CER has responsibility for the assessment of applications to construct transmission pipelines. I have no function in these operational matters.

BGE owns and operates the national transmission and distribution gas network. BGE and the CER have advised that all transmission pipelines, including those in residential areas, are designed, constructed, tested, operated and maintained in accordance with Irish Standard 328:2003, Code of Practice for Gas Transmission Pipelines and Pipeline Installations.

I understand that pipelines in suburban and urban areas are constructed using high grade steel pipe and lain in accordance with Irish Standard 323:2003. In order to ensure the safety of the pipeline a desired minimum level of cover of 1.2 metres is specified throughout. However, it is recognised in the standard that this will not be possible in some circumstances over short sections, for example where existing major services are located and cannot be moved. In these cases, additional pipeline protection measures are specified, such as concrete impact protection, are put in place in accordance with Irish Standard 328:2003. All transmission pipelines must be installed fully in accordance with the requirements of the standard with no breaches or lapses of the standard considered acceptable. Once commissioned, a scheduled routine maintenance and inspection programme is applied to all pipelines.

Following completion of construction, the consent of the CER is required before BGE may operate the pipeline. This consent is subject to a review of all relevant data and test records by a CER commissioned independent consultant. Safety is BGE’s top 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. I have every confidence in BGE’s priority commitment to safety.

I understand the Deputy is referring to the Santry to East Wall gas pipeline. In regard to that pipeline, the consent of the CER to BGE’s undertaking of these works was informed by the advice of independent consultants engaged by the CER. This advice dealt with matters such as the pipeline’s technical compliance with design requirements, including minimum depth specifications, and compliance with the relevant Irish Standard 328:2003.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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24. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the Western Development Commission paper, Why Invest in Gas, which outlines the clear benefit of extending the natural gas distribution network to the north west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34751/13]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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41. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the extension of the gas network in the north west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35066/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 41 together.

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the statutory, independent body, charged with the assessment and licensing of prospective operators seeking to develop and operate a gas distribution system within the State. I have no direct statutory function in relation to the connection of towns to the gas network

The CER, in 2006, approved a network connections policy which enabled reassessment of the feasibility of connecting certain towns to the gas network. In order for any town to be connected to the gas network, certain economic criteria need to be satisfied as a prerequisite. The policy allows for the appraisal of a town either on its own or as part of a regional group of towns.

This policy framework provides that, over a certain period, the costs of connecting a town, or group of towns, to the network are recouped through the actual economic consumption of gas and the associated tariffs. Uneconomic projects would increase costs for all energy consumers.

Under the CER's policy framework, Bord Gáis Networks, and latterly Gaslink, carried out a comprehensive review of towns not connected to the national gas network. Gaslink published its New Towns Analysis Phase 3 report in 2010.

The study included a review of the feasibility of connecting 11 towns in the West and North West region which are the focus of the Western Development Commission paper, “Why Invest in Gas”. However, the Gaslink review found that none of the towns qualified for connection on economic grounds.

Gaslink will continue to review the towns which did not qualify for connection under the 2010 Study as well as other towns. The key factor which would qualify a town or group of towns in any future review would be a significant increase in demand for natural gas, usually as a result of the addition of a new large industrial or commercial facility.