asked the Minister for the Environment the number of occasions since 1 November 1989 on which recorded smog levels were in excess of the permitted EC levels; and the locations where such levels were exceeded.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Smoke Levels.
3.
Data available from the Dublin local authorities on smoke levels recorded since mid-November at certain monitoring stations in the Dublin area indicate that a total of six exceedances of the relevant EC limit values occurred at monitoring stations in Ballyfermot, Crumlin, Rathmines and Clondalkin.
First, would the Minister of State indicate if there have been any excesses in areas outside of Dublin as this question does not specifically refer to the Dublin area? Second, in view of the great public concern about this issue would the Minister of State consider taking some emergency measures to alleviate the smog problem in Dublin? Such measures might include urging people to use Bord na Móna peat briquettes which, despite what the Minister of State said in her previous reply, account for only 12 per cent of the solid fuel market. Finally, would she explain why it is that of the £1 million set aside for conversion grants only £125,000 has been——
That would be an entirely new question. The Deputy has got information on the question put and he is now entitled to ask a supplementary question in respect of elucidation on any lack of information on the question he presented. He is not entitled during Question Time to ask new questions.
My supplementary question relates to the measures the Minister of State may take in an effort to alleviate the problem in areas where the permitted levels have been exceeded. I am merely asking if the Minister of State would not be prepared to consider making conversion grants available to people in areas which perhaps may have been designated by the local authorities but which have not as yet been confirmed by the Minister in view of the fact that the amount of money paid out to date, £125,000, is the same as the amount of money the Minister of State has paid out to an advertising agency in connection with the smogbusters campaign?
In reply to the first part of the question, I am not aware of the levels having been exceeded outside the Dublin area. In response to the other part, the Government will make available £3 million in 1990 for the two special control areas order that I recently confirmed. In addition to the £1 million which was made available for Ballyfermot area A, that is a total of £4 million. Applications are being processed as a matter of urgency by the local authority and I hope that that money will be taken up during the early part of 1990. The people have six months to comply with the orders.
In relation to urging people to switch to low smoke fuel, I have done that by way of the information campaign and many public statements. I reiterate my appeal and would urge other Deputies to urge the public to co-operate on a voluntary basis in bringing down smoke levels. We are aiming as a matter of urgency to ensure that we deal with the smog problem in Dublin as fast as possible, but at the latest by the middle of 1993.
Will the Minister take any special measures in view of the fact that Bord na Móna have considerable stockpiles of peat briquettes to use this native fuel from a State company, to try to solve the problem in the immediate term?
That is a separate question. We have one more question to attend to and we have four minutes left for it. We must move on to that now unless the Minister has any one special comment she wishes to make.
It is possible for people by combining peat briquettes with another low smoke fuel to have a fire as cheaply as they would have burning coal. It is not just a question of making financial differences.