Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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131. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide any preliminary update on research directed at examining the potential environmental and human health impacts of hydraulic fracturing, commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency; the position of the Government on hydraulic fracturing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22973/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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At the outset, I would like to confirm again that no exploration involving hydraulic fracking has been authorised in this jurisdiction and I can also confirm, as I have done on numerous occasions, that no decision will be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling as part of an unconventional gas exploration programme, until there has been time to consider the outcome of the research programme directed at examining the potential environmental and human health impacts of hydraulic fracturing commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction (UGEE) Joint Research Programme is a comprehensive programme of research and there are many elements to it including baseline analysis and desk –based literature reviews.

The five main elements comprise :

1.Impacts on surface waters, groundwater and related ecosystems;

2.Impacts on seismic activity;

3.Impacts on air quality;

4.International operational practice and impact mitigation measures; and

5.Regulatory regimes for fracking in different countries

The EPA is coordinating this 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 is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. The UGEE Research Programme is managed by a steering committee.

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 project began in August 2014 and is scheduled to be completed in July 2016.

There has been good progress made on the programme to date. The final report will be made publically available on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website once the research has been concluded. Further details on the research programme are currently available on a dedicated website and a progress report can be accessed at the link below