asked the Minister for the Environment the recommendations of the working group which reported in February 1985 to his Department on smoke and sulphur dioxide levels in Dublin; and the progress made to date in implementing these recommendations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Smoke and Sulphur Dioxide Levels.
7.
The study in question was essentially a preliminary exercise which has led to a more detailed study in my Department of options for dealing with air pollution in the Dublin area. This study extends to matters such as likely future developments in relation to overall consumption of energy and trends in the use of particular fuels, estimates of total emissions in the Dublin area in future years on the basis of the existing policies and the extent to which these emissions may need to be reduced in the interests of health and the environment generally.
In the light of that type of analysis, it will be necessary to assess different possible strategies for minimising emissions, particularly as regards the cost and other implications for the State, as well as the individual consumer, of developing the use of different kinds of cleaner fuels and combustion processes. I intend that this work will be completed as quickly as possible. In the meantime, drafting of an Air Pollution Bill is in progress. The Bill will update and extend existing legislation on the control of air pollution, permit the full implementation of EC legislation, and provide local authorities with all necessary powers to ensure good air quality in their areas.
Has the amount of smoke and sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere increased in recent years as a result of burning more coal?
In general, that would possibly be so. If the Deputy requires the information available in regard to urban air quality generally — and in Dublin in particular where the greatest difficulties are noticed — it seems the case that the pollutant giving the most cause for concern is smoke arising from the combustion of solid fuels. Various options for dealing with smoke pollution and the costs and implications of different solutions, including smokeless zones, are at present being considered in my Department. The working group referred to in the question carried out preliminary work on the options for dealing with the problem and the results of their deliberations show the need for further and more detailed consideration of the costs and other implications to the State.
As regards Dublin's air quality generally, the position is that the EC Directive on Air Quality Standards for Sulphur Dioxide and Smoke came into force in July 1982. On the basis of the relevant monitoring data, all the mandatory EC standards laid down in that directive in relation to sulphur dioxide have been met in Dublin and in all other areas. The annual smoke levels at all the Dublin monitoring stations have met the EC standards since 1982. There have been, however, excesses of daily smoke levels on some individual days and on some groups of three days and at some of the 14 measuring stations in 1983-84 and 1984-85. That information is as complete and as up-to-date as I can give the Deputy.
Would the Minister not agree that the major cause for concern is the level on the individual days, and that the averaging, over a long period, of pollution levels is of little relevance in a city like Dublin, where the weather circumstances are the cause for concern? Further, can he give the House any indication of the cost implications of a switch to smokeless fuel in certain zones, both cost to the consumer and any other costs that might be involved?
As I said, we have received this report and its implications now have to be considered by my Department. Obviously, the points which the Deputy raised will be receiving attention. I would again point out that generally the requirements of the EC legislation to eliminate the excesses to which he rightly points on certain days in the Dublin area will be met, it is hoped long before the 1993 date required by the Community for elimination of the problem. I hope to have the appropriate statutory and administrative framework well in place to deal with the problems.
Will the Minister publish the findings of the study that he has arranged to have carried out?
At the moment I am treating it as an internal document. I shall consider whether it should be circulated.
Could Deputies get a copy of it?
I said that I would consider that favourably.