ENVIRONMENT Minister Mark H Durkan has pledged to carry out research into the potential dangers of fracking in Fermanagh.

In a statement to the House on Tuesday, Minister Durkan explained that tenders for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) research project were to be initiated.

Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott took the opportunity to ask the Minister to outline what input the Department of the Environment or any other Department would have on the report and research.

In his response, Minister Durkan said: “I thank the Member for that question. I think that he might have beaten Mr. Flanagan to the punch on that one.

“Fracking is a hugely important and controversial issue in Fermanagh especially but also right across the North and, indeed, the world. Therefore, it is vital that we carry out as much research as possible into the potential dangers and risks associated with it. That is why I have been keen for my Department to work with the EPA on this research programme.” The Minister explained that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency had initially committed to co-funding the all-Ireland research programme with £50,000 in 2014-15 and the same amount the following year.

“The earlier answers that I gave in the Assembly were based on these figures. However, given the increased attention that the issue is attracting in the Chamber and throughout Ireland and the UK, the agency wished to ensure that maximum value was realised from the research programme.

“We, therefore, believed that a more significant contribution was required to put the agency on a more equal footing with the other two funding partners, which have committed €500,000 each. So we are on a more equal footing but still nowhere near an equal footing. My Department will contribute £100,000 in this financial year and £100,000 in the next financial year,” he said.

Sinn Fein’s Phil Flanagan asked the Minister: “Will the Minister indicate to the House why, despite the fact that, as he has acknowledged himself in a written answer to me, a significant number of the 1,356 respondents to the public consultation on the research programme indicted that they wanted to see a health impact assessment carried out, that is not being included as part of the work? Both Governments are now spending nearly €1 million on it. It will be a waste of money if it is not done right. Will the Minister explain to the House why it has not been included and whether there is any chance that he could change his mind and actually put it in?” “The research that has been commissioned into fracking and its potential harmful and ill effects is not and will not be exhaustive,” replied Minister Durkan. “In March, I visited the EPA in Washington to have a look at the research that it has carried out over a number of years at a cost of some $20 million, and that, in itself, is, as yet, far from conclusive. I can tell the Member and those who called for a health assessment to be part of this study that any planning application that comes forward for anything associated with fracking will be subject to a full health assessment.”