asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider recommending that incentives for the burning of smokeless fuels be given to householders in an endeavour to reduce the unacceptably high levels of sulphur dioxide in the air in Dublin city; and if he will outline the approximate increase in the use of domestic coal since 1975.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Smokeless Fuels.
11.
As mentioned in my reply to Questions Nos. 561 and 562 of 13 December 1984, various options for improving air quality generally are being examined by my Department in conjunction with the preparation of new air pollution legislation. Among these options would be the possibility of incentives for the burning of clean fuels.
Figures produced by the Department of Energy show that total national use of coal in the domestic sector, in thousand tonnes of oil equivalent, increased from 358 in 1976 to 688 in 1983. It is estimated that coal consumption in Dublin in 1983 was about one-third of total national consumption and that the corresponding proportion of 1976 consumption would have been somewhat higher. However, there is no detailed information available to support these estimates.
Surely the Minister, being a Dubliner living in the heart of the city, is aware that the air in the capital is appalling. Would he not agree, given that medical evidence is available to support the fact that people are dying as a result of the quality of the air in Dublin, that rather than await a new Clean Air Act the Minister would take immediate steps to correct this matter by declaring Dublin a smoke free zone and give incentives to burn smokeless fuels?
I am as concerned as the Deputy about pollution not only in Dublin but in all other large urban areas. I have asked my Department to inquire into the possibility of declaring smoke-free zones. The cost may be astronomical. I have asked the Department to do a cost-benefit analysis and to let me know what the cost would be. There is the incentive to use natural gas for heating purposes. A number of measures taken together would give us what we want. I have asked for all this information and I should have it before next winter so that we will be able to make decisions before the onset of winter. The Clean Air Bill will enable us to declare smoke free zones. I assure the Deputy that we are looking into this matter and I am hoping to have a decision as quickly as possible.
I will allow Deputy Brady to ask one more supplementary.
There have been occasions when Deputies have been allowed up to ten supplementaries——
That is what has caused Question Time to be as it is. Another unhelpful practice has developed, making short speeches on every question. That should be avoided.
I appreciate that. The Chair has the advantage of living in beautiful clean air surroundings——
The Chair has a heavy obligation to see to it that the business of the House will be carried out in an expeditious and reasonable manner. Under Standing Order 37, the Chair has complete discretion on the number and relevance of supplementary questions, and there should not be any debate on whether the Chair is right or wrong.
In view of the fact that capital cities throughout the world — I take London, 20 times the size of Dublin — are smoke free zones, would he commission a team from the Department to go to London or to Coventry to find out immediately how they declared their cities to be smoke free. I believe it was done very quickly. A similar operation was carried out in Detroit recently. The Minister should set about that type of action immediately. Will the Minister indicate if his Department's records show that any person was prosecuted for transgressing the 1970 Act dealing with atmospheric pollution?
I do not have any information to respond to the last question. I should like to assure the Deputy that I have asked the Department to look into this matter. If officials consider it necessary to go to England or other centres, they will do so. I want to get a cost analysis on this to make sure that whatever decision we take will be carried out rather than making bland statements declaring some areas smoke free without going into the cost of such action.