Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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571. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of funding the State expended on research into hydraulic fracturing, which is environmentally damaging and commercially non-viable; the results of the research in regard to the effects on human health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41700/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is coordinating the Joint Research Programme into the potential environmental impacts of Unconventional Gas Exploration & Extraction (UGEE), the research programme is being co-funded by the EPA, my own Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).The key questions that this Joint Research Programme, which is to be carried out over a minimum period of two years, needs to answer are:

- Can unconventional gas exploration and extraction projects and operations be carried out in the island of Ireland whilst also protecting the environment and human health? and

- What is ‘best environmental practice’ in relation to such projects and operations?

There has been considerable effort invested by the organisations managing the Joint Research Programme and the consortium engaged to carry out the research. There has been good progress made to-date. The final report will be made publically available on the EPA website once the research has been concluded. Further details on the research programme is currently available on a dedicated website .

The costs of the first phase of the Joint Research Programme were estimated at just over €1m. The three commissioning bodies committed approximately €1.25m in funding to the research project. While my own Department has committed €0.5m to the project, these funds have not been paid out as yet.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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573. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of hydraulic fracturing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41703/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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The multi-agency trans-boundary programme of research on the potential impacts on the environment and human health from Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction projects is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and co-funded by the EPA, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, with oversight from a broad based Steering Committee that includes my Department. This All-Island Joint Research Programme is a collaborative approach between Northern Ireland and this jurisdiction and is working very well. I regard the sharing of expertise between the various State Agencies in both jurisdictions as a positive initiative. The research programme is broad in its scope, covering several environmental parameters as well as operational practice and regulatory approaches around the world. The Terms of Reference for this research programme were agreed by a broadly based Steering Committee. The draft Terms of Reference had earlier been published for consultation and more than 1,300 submissions were received. The EPA and the Steering Committee reviewed the submissions and the draft Terms of Reference were amended and strengthened after this public consultation.

I understand that the contract for this programme of research was awarded following a robust evaluation process in compliance with public procurement guidelines, where the tender submitted by the winning consortium was evaluated as being the strongest bid. The constitution of the evaluation panel was approved by the project Steering Committee and included personnel with the capacity to make informed decisions on the tenders received. The evaluation panel consisted of 27 existing and retired personnel from various State agencies spanning four jurisdictions.

One of the key requirements of the tender process was evidence of expertise in the field. The evaluation panel found that in this regard, that the tender led by CDM Smith provided an excellent response. The overall resourcing of the proposal included excellent legal expertise, a strong and experienced hydrogeological team, an excellent peer-review group proposed with high credibility, in addition to a seismology team which was considered to be outstanding. Work undertaken by the consortium is reviewed by the members funding the programme and external experts appointed by them.

As is usual in major and broad ranging projects such as this, the project team involves a wide range of expert institutions and companies. The consortium includes CDM Smith, the British Geological Survey, University College Dublin, Ulster University, AMEC Foster Wheeler and Philip Lee Solicitors. This consortium includes commercial consultancies, academics, a geological research institution and a legal firm, each offering a particular specialism required by the project scope. This broad range of experience and expertise adds to the strength of the consortium.

Members of the consortium (CDM Smith, AMEC and BGS) have extensive practical experience of working for the oil and gas industry, including on UGEE projects in different countries. This experience is essential for the consortium to be able to effectively address the questions that are the subject of this Joint Research Programme.

The programme of research will assist regulators, both North and South, in making informed decisions about hydraulic fracking and I believe that we should leave space for this research to report.