Vol. 491 No. 1
88 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason the increased fuel allowance of £8 only applies to eligible persons in certain towns and cities; and the criteria necessary to be included among the towns and cities to which the higher fuel allowance applies. [11456/98]
The increased fuel allowance arises in the context of my recent extension of the ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, already in place in Dublin and Cork cities, to an additional five major urban areas from 1 October 1998.
The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs will pay, during the winter heating season, the supplementary fuel allowance of £3 per week to people in receipt of the national fuel allowance payment of £5 per week and to other qualifying social welfare recipients in the restricted areas specified in the First Schedule of the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 118 of 1998) to assist lower income households with the increased cost of smokeless solid fuel.
The selection of the additional restricted areas to which these regulations apply was based on an analysis of air quality monitoring results over recent years. While mandatory national and EU air quality standards were not breached anywhere in Ireland during the 1996-97 heating season, October to March, higher than average smoke levels were experienced in Limerick city, Arklow, Dundalk, Drogheda and Wexford town. In banning bituminous coal in these areas, I am adopting a precautionary approach, which will achieve the better standards enjoyed by Dublin and Cork. Air quality data in all monitored urban areas and the need for further action will be kept under ongoing review.
