asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to continue relying on S.I. No. 190 of 1963 to control emissions from vehicles after the Air Pollution Bill, 1986 becomes law, the number of prosecutions which have been taken under this statutory instrument in each of the last ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Emissions from Vehicles.
25.
The Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 (S.I. No. 190 of 1963), which will be unaffected by the enactment of the Air Pollution Bill, 1986, are not and will not be the only means of regulating emissions from vehicles. The annual vehicle fitness test affecting most heavy goods vehicles, including buses, includes requirements as to exhaust emissions. Excessive air pollution from traffic congestion can be addressed by traffic management measures.
The lead and the benzene content of petrol is controlled by the European Communities (Lead Content of Petrol) Regulations, 1985 and 1986 and the sulphur content of diesel by the European Communities (Sulphur Content of Gas Oil) Regulations, 1985. Section 53 of the Air Pollution Bill, 1986 will provide a broad power enabling further environmental regulation of the content of fuels.
A series of draft EC directives, now at an advanced stage of negotiation, is designed to reduce emissions from new vehicles by the imposition of cleaner technologies. We would be implementing these standards, in time, through the type approval system. As I stated during the Dáil debate on the Air Pollution Bill, I consider that sufficient legislative powers now exist to regulate vehicle emissions and that it is not necessary to provide further for this matter in the Bill.
Prosecutions under the Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles Regulations, 1963 are set out under a number of categories in the Garda Commissioner's Annual Report on Crime. However, separate figures are not given in respect of offences relating to vehicle emissions. Prosecutions relating to vehicle emissions would be included under the category of "Other Offences". Details of this category up to the latest year available are set out in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
Proceedings taken under Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicle Regulations, 1963: Other Offences Category
|
1976 |
1977 |
1978 |
1979 |
1980 |
1981 |
1982 |
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
|
6,418 |
9,366 |
9,729 |
11,541 |
16,947 |
16,113 |
16,986 |
22,040 |
28,118 |
24,902 |
Source: Garda Commissioner's Report on Crime 1976 to 1985.