Vol. 404 No. 9
143 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Energy if he will outline his views on the provision of natural gas to the Meadowpark-Ballyvolane area of Cork city; and if he proposes to introduce a scheme to subsidise the installation of a gas supply in line with the Government's attempts to reduce the level of air pollution in Cork city.
The provision of natural gas to areas not catered for by the existing gas grid is a matter for Bord Gáis Éireann. The board have a statutory responsibility to earn a satisfactory return on capital employed and will, therefore, connect only those areas where there is a sufficient take-up of gas to mount a viable project.
A survey of householders is currently under way in the area concerned but Bord Gáis Éireann advise that consumer interest so far is poor.
Regulation of air quality in Cork is a matter for the Minister for the Environment. There are no funds available to me to introduce a subsidisation scheme as suggested by the Deputy.
