Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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501. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount that has been spent; that is anticipated to be spent, on the Environmental Protection Agency unconventional gas exploration and extraction research programme; and the amount of same that is to be strive funding, central government funding and Northern Irish Government funding. [19699/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a statutory role for the co-ordination of environmental research in Ireland, and receives an annual allocation from the Environment Fund for this purpose. The decision on the budget to be provided is made each year on the basis of balancing the indicative research requirements of the Agency, and the availability of funding.  For example, in 2014, a research budget of €12.98 m was approved for the EPA. Ultimately, the final distribution of the research budget allocated from the Environment Fund is a matter for the Agency.

I understand that, following an announcement in November 2013, the EPA is coordinating a multi-agency trans-boundary programme of research on the potential Impacts on the environment and human health from Unconventional Gas Exploration & Extraction projects/ operations. This UGEE Joint Research Programme (JRP) is funded by the EPA, the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). The research is being undertaken by a consortium of independent organisations comprising CDM Smith, British Geological Survey, University College Dublin, Ulster University, Queens University Belfast, AMEC Foster Wheeler and Philip Lee Solicitors. The research, which began in August 2014, is anticipated to take place over approximately 24 months.

As it is the EPA which is the independent body leading on this research project, further information, if required, can be obtained directly from the Agency.