asked the Minister for the Environment when he will be in a position to announce the grants and subsidies which will be available to householders in the proposed smoke control zone in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.
80.
Written Answers. - Ballyfermot, Dublin, Smoke Control Zone Proposal.
49.
asked the Minister for the Environment having regard to the fact that Dublin City Council have passed a resolution declaring part of Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 as a smoke control zone, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that most residents are now on the brink of making a decision in relation to conversion to smoke free or low smoke apparatus and-or fuels; that many decisions are being postponed pending clarification of the grants which will be available; if, as this is the only smoke control area in the country which, because of the six months' notice rule, can be in train for the winter of 1988, he will confirm that the £250,000 in the Estimates will be the minimum available for the 835 houses involved; the minimum and maximum grants available for each house; the conditions, if any, which will attach to the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
81.
asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in the proposed smoke free zone in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 between Kylemore Road and Garryowen Road many residents are on the point of making decisions in relation to heating arrangements for the future and that these decisions are being delayed awaiting clarification as to the amount of grants that will be available for this purpose; whether a grant will be available to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and if so the amount of grant payable.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 80 and 81 together.
I am aware that Dublin City Council have made a special control area order for part of Ballyfermot and that the order is now available for public inspection for the statutory period prior to its submission, with any objections, for confirmation by me.
A grants scheme, however, can only operate in so far as a special control area order has been finalised and, in practice, the statutory period for objections and the possibility of an oral hearing is likely to delay confirmation of the order by some months. It is only at that stage that householders in the special control area would be obliged to make appropriate adaptations to their heating systems so as to comply with the terms of the order.
The scheme of financial assistance under section 45 of the Air Pollution Act, 1987, for which £250,000 was provided in the budget, is now being completed and I will announce details as soon as possible.