Written answers

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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341. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update regarding the fracking process here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44341/13]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Three onshore licensing options were granted in February 2011, by the previous Government, two over parts of the North West Carboniferous (Lough Allen) Basin and one over parts of County Clare. These licensing options conferred upon the holders the first right to apply for an exploration licence over the areas concerned. I can confirm that two of the three companies, (Tamboran Resources and Enegi) have submitted applications for a follow-on exploration licence.

I have made it clear on a number of occasions that any application for an exploration licence that proposed the use of hydraulic fracturing as part of an unconventional gas exploration programme would be subject to an environmental impact assessment. I have also made clear that such an environmental impact assessment would be informed by the findings of further research to be commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and that no decision would be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling in Ireland until there has been time to consider the outcome of this further EPA research. I do not propose to consider applications for exploration authorisations in respect of other onshore areas until the EPA research has concluded.

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