Ruairí Quinn
Question:94 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the action he has taken to date to advance Ireland's Green Presidency of the EC Council, as promised by the Taoiseach in January 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - EC Presidency Programme.
In this year's budget, I took steps to increase the incentive to use environmentally friendly motor fuels by reducing the tax on unleaded petrol by a further 5p per gallon and halving the tax on auto liquid petroleum gas. Initial indications confirm that consumption of unleaded petrol is rising as a result of the budget changes.
A number of environmental initiatives are being undertaken by the Office of Public Works. The Office of Public Works, in co-operation with the Central Fisheries Board, have initiated a five year programme for development of coarse fishing on the Grand and Royal Canals for which a sum of £100,000 has been allocated this year under the Government's environment action programme. In addition the following projects are being undertaken: habitat study of Royal Canal west of Mullingar; improvement works at Grand Canal Docks, Ringsend, Dublin; planting of trees and the provision of seats along selected urban sections of the canals; re-opening of the Royal Canal; provision of pump-out facilities for cruisers on the Shannon and on the canals in co-operation with local authorities and Bord Fáilte; monitoring of water quality in Grand and Royal Canals; rehabilitation of fisheries after drainage construction works on the Boyne and Glyde rivers. It is also planned to co-operate with the Central Fisheries Board in the provision of suitable fishery habitat in the Inny catchment; experimenting with general drainage maintenance practices to optimise the fishery potential; and co-operation with the Geological Survey on the study of peatland conservation.
The establishment of Ireland's fourth national park in County Wicklow was announced on 3 April. The park will initially encompass a core area of 3,700 hectares of Glendalough. It will be expanded as finances permit to cover a much larger area and in this regard the upland area of the Powerscourt Estate comprising 2,500 hectares has been acquired. I have also committed a sum of £2.1 million for a visitor centre for the park.
A further 207 acres adjacent to the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve was purchased in March to increase the reserve capacity to preserve the Greenland white-fronted geese and other threatened species.
Negotiations are completed for the purchase of an area of over 900 acres of blanket bog to extend the Knockmoyle-Sheskin nature reserve in County Mayo.
Four extra nature reserves have been created in 1990 to date and six others will shortly be designated.