Six Gas Pipeline Strikes In Kildare Trigger Urgent Safety Warning For Landowners

Monday, 15 September 2025 15:41

By Martin Osborne

The pipelines cross the lands of 154 landowners and serve almost 38,000 homes and businesses across the county.

Six incidents involving underground gas infrastructure in Kildare last year have prompted a renewed safety warning to landowners.

Gas Networks Ireland recorded one encroachment on a transmission pipeline and five accidental strikes on distribution pipelines across the county in 2024.

With 898 km of underground gas pipelines running through Kildare - 830 km of distribution and 68 km of high-pressure transmission pipes - landowners are being urged to ‘Dial Before You Dig’ before carrying out any excavation work.

The pipelines cross the lands of 154 landowners and serve almost 38,000 homes and businesses across the county.

Paul O’Brien, Head of Health, Safety and Quality at Gas Networks Ireland, said: "Gas transmission pipelines carry huge volumes of gas at extremely high pressure, like the force of a power washer. Distribution pipelines move gas at much lower pressure, closer to the steady flow of a kitchen tap. Accidentally striking either can be very dangerous, but damaging a transmission pipe can have catastrophic consequences."

In 2024, 1,168 safety checks were requested by Kildare landowners through the service - up 23% on 2022 - but Gas Networks Ireland says even greater vigilance is needed.

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