Seymour Crawford
Question:55 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the Government's policy on financial incentives to encourage the use of cleaner fuels, such as liquid petroleum gas. [10515/98]
Written Answers. - Motor Fuels.
Olivia Mitchell
Question:223 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has considered the introduction of inducements, regulations or legislation to encourage the use of more environmentally friendly fuels than diesel. [10649/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 223 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 214 of 28 April 1998, in which I recognised the value and potential of using the fiscal system to achieve environmental objectives. In regard to the promotion of cleaner fuels, an excise differential has been applied for a number of years to encourage the use of unleaded petrol, and sales have now increased to almost 82 per cent. I am aware that a significantly favourable excise differential also applies to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The potential for extending such incentives in regard to other environmentally friendly fuels will be kept under review in the context of ongoing consideration of environmental taxation measures.
More stringent fuel quality standards for diesel and petrol and more stringent vehicle emission standards for diesel and petrol engines are being developed currently under the EU auto oil programme.