Vol. 491 No. 6
212 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will name the smoke free zones in the State; the proposals, if any, he has for extending the status to other areas; when he will extend the status to Waterford city; the health implications, if any, of high smoke levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13073/98]
A ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal has operated in Dublin since 1990 and in Cork since 1995. In fulfilment of the Government commitment in An Action Programme for the Millennium, I recently announced the extension of the ban to Arklow, Drogheda, Dundalk, Limerick and Wexford to take effect from 1 October, 1998. In selecting these additional areas, I assessed air quality data in all monitored areas, including Waterford City. Although preventive measures are not proposed outside the selected areas at present, the data and the need for further action will be kept under ongoing review.
International experience and independent Irish research have shown that excessive levels of smoke pollution are associated with increased hospital admissions, increased morbidity and a peak in mortality. Excessive smoke pollution has both acute and chronic health effects, in particular for high-risk groups, such as the elderly and people with asthma or diseases of the lungs.
