Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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821. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm that consultants and inspectors hired by his Department have access to gas tunnels as part of their inspections; that certification for access to such tunnels is only provided to gas industry personnel as opposed to inspectors; that only contractors with sufficient access to all areas are required to produce a full report as required by the compliance procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38319/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I assume that the Deputy is asking this question in the context of the Corrib gas project. I can confirm that the team of consultants engaged by my Department to assist it in monitoring compliance with the conditions of the consents granted by my Department in respect of this project have the necessary expertise, experience and competence to carry out this work. I can also confirm that the consultants have adequate access to all areas of the project to enable them to carry out their role in an effective manner. As regards the visit undertaken by the Environ tunnelling specialist on 2/3 July, the specific scope of that visit was to:

- Review the points raised during the previous visit by the tunnelling specialist;

- Assess the possible reasons behind the “depressions” that had been recently reported in Sruwaddacon Bay; and

- Examine what lessons have been learned from the above incidents.

The site visit involved discussions with SEPIL and its tunnelling contractors, document reviews and a visit to the tunnelling compound. Entry inside the tunnel itself was not undertaken and this would have required specific confined space training. However, entry to the tunnel was not required to complete the scope of work and hence this did not materially affect the conclusions of the site visit report.