asked the Minister for the Environment if he is satisfied that the ESB is taking all reasonable steps to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide from the Moneypoint generating station in order to limit the dangers of air pollution and acid rain; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Moneypoint Power Station.
30.
The statutory environmental requirements relating to Moneypoint power station, including those on sulphur dioxide emissions, are set out in the planning permission granted by Clare County Council in 1979. This takes account of an ecological impact study carried out by An Foras Forbartha and a study of the consequences for agriculture by An Foras Talúntais.
It is for Clare County Council to ensure compliance with the Moneypoint planning permission. In addition to monitoring within the plant itself, 11 stations in Clare monitor the air pollution requirements of the planning permission. In the limited period for which the plant has been operating, these requirements have all been met.
As regards effects by way of acid rain, relevant monitoring is carried out at meteorological stations throughout the country, including Valentia which participates in an international monitoring programme under EMEP auspices. Monitoring of rainfall is also conducted by a number of other bodies, including the ESB who have stations at the Burren and in the Slieve Bloom mountains. Evaluation of the data is not sufficiently complete to provide accurate assessment of any incremental contribution from Moneypoint to long range air pollution. However, I have no knowledge of any untoward trend.
Question No. 31 taken as oral.