Tourist sites ‘under threat’ from extraction of resources

THE extraction of underground natural resources could put major visitor attractions such as Doolin and Ailwee Caves in Clare at risk of collapse, an environmentalist has claimed.

Fracking — fracturing of underground shale seams to release gas — is being considered in areas of mainland Ireland, including parts of counties Clare, Kerry, Limerick and Cork.

Bob Wilson from Celt in Scariff has requested Natural Resources Minister Pat Rabbitte to ensure fracking did not take place in Clare because it can cause earth tremors.

“This practice is highly dangerous and shouldn’t be conducted in any place where it would put tourist structures at risk.

“Fracking poses serious threats which include possible earthquakes as recently occurred at Blackpool in England and gas leaks. Gas was found in domestic water supplies in USA,” Mr Wilson claimed.

An Taisce chairman, Charles Stanley Smith, said it was important to pose questions about the ability of the authorities to create and police regulations that need to be applied to the entire extraction process of “Shale Gas” in Ireland, given the serious environmental problems which took place in the USA as a result of this process.

“If we can’t show that the safety of the people and the environment can be safeguarded, then fracking should be banned,” he said.

Earlier this year, the department awarded a two-year onshore Petroleum Licensing Option to Enegi Oil plc over parts of the Clare basin which incorporates most of the Munster counties.

The licensing option is designed to allow the company assess the natural gas potential of the acreage largely based on desktop studies of existing data from previous petroleum exploration activity in the area.

It specifically excludes exploration drilling but may include shallow geological sampling.

A spokesman for the department confirmed it had not licensed hydraulic fracturing.