Richard Bruton
Question:6 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Energy whether he has assessed the impact which the banning of bituminous coal will have upon the Dublin solid fuel market; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Banning of Bituminous Coal.
Austin Currie
Question:48 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Energy whether he has assessed the impact the banning of bituminous coal will have on the Dublin solid fuel market; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 48 together.
In the light of the ban on the sale and distribution of bituminous coal in Dublin from 1 October, 1990, announced by my colleague the Minister for the Environment on 26 January 1990, my Department decided to survey the position regarding stocks and supplies of non-bituminous solid fuels as a matter of urgency. Following preliminary discussions with several operators in the solid fuels markets, I am endeavouring to establish with the importers that there will be adequate supplies of low-smoke solid fuels and other alternatives available by 1 October to meet the requirements of the Dublin region. Further meetings will be held with solid fuel suppliers over the summer to keep the situation under constant review.
Has the Minister looked at the price of these fuels that will become available? Will he look at the evidence in the Eolas document published recently on the cost of heating fuels that there will be an increase of 50 per cent in the cost of winter fuels if we shift away from bituminous?
This matter is under continuous review at present in my Department and the other Departments concerned. The Minister for the Environment has announced that £3 million will be made available in 1990 to ensure that costs arising from the burning of smokeless fuels will be minimised for low income groups. I have no comment to make on the Eolas report at this stage. I would like to have a look at it.
Will the Minister turn his attention to the question of prices? Will he agree that traditionally the bituminous coal industry have had very high margins that have not been available in smokeless fuels? Will he agree there is danger of further increases in costs and that the £3 million provided by the Minister will go only a very little way to meet the needs, and that the cost will be of the order of £360 million?
We should all understand the scale of adjustments that will be necessary in the switching over to smokeless fuels. There will be a shift to products which are new to the traditional coal user and it would be naive to expect there will be no difficulties in the changeover, but from the co-ordinated evidence of the Government Departments involved in this and the fuel suppliers, we will overcome these difficulties. The money that has already been provided has been of the level of £3 million. Discussions are continuing and the matter is being examined. It is a major step that has been taken. It has the support of all parties here and of the community in general. The Government will do everything possible to ensure that the additional cost burden does not fall on those who would suffer hardship trying to meet it.
Has the Minister issued the regulations yet?
I am sorry to intervene, but I must tell the Deputy — he may well be aware — that supplementary questions at this stage are confined to the Deputies who tabled the questions. These are Priority Questions.