151 Dr. McDaid asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the situation regarding the Kinsale gas fields; and the amount of reserve left according to the most recent update. [32184/06]

The Department estimates that 55 billion cubic feet of gas remain to be produced from the Kinsale area gas fields and that the field could continue in production until sometime between 2011 and 2013 depending on commercial considerations and storage activity.

152 Dr. McDaid asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the length of time Ireland’s natural gas resources will hold out; and the difference the availability of the Corrib gas field would be to same if it came to pass. [32185/06]

Responsibility for monitoring the security of Ireland's natural gas supply lies with the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Under the Gas (Interim) Regulation Act 2002, the CER is required to prepare an annual Gas Capacity Statement, which provides a 7-year rolling forecast of capacity, flows and customer demand on Ireland's natural gas system. The forecast also assesses, for a range of possible scenarios, whether projected supplies of gas from indigenous sources, imports and storage, are sufficient to meet forecast demand.

One of the main conclusions of the 2006 Gas Capacity Statement, which was published by the CER in July 2006 and covers the period 2006-13, is that the existing Irish gas transmission system is sufficient to cope with reasonable expectations of demand, both on the peak and on the minimum day under most conditions for the period of this Statement.

The Corrib field, when it is developed, will bring significant volumes of gas into the Irish system, enhancing the security of Irish gas supplies until 2018. Given the uncertainties about oil and gas supplies and security of our energy supply into the future, this project is of vital national importance. Any slippage on delivery of Corrib gas would leave Ireland's economy more vulnerable to fluctuations in international energy prices with the consequential impact, which this would have on continued competitiveness. Delivery of Corrib gas also has the potential to bring significant benefits to North West Mayo and the region as a whole.