asked the Minister for Local Government what instruments are available in this country to measure the level of air pollution.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Air Pollution.
9.
The instrument used to measure the levels of air pollution in this country is the daily volumetric smoke and sulphur dioxide unit. Other instruments used for particular purposes in connection with the problem are the deposit gauge and lead peroxide instrument.
Could the Minister state the number of instruments which are available in this country and where they are situated?
That would be a tabular statement.
Could we have the statement if there are more than two such instruments, as mentioned, in the country?
There are.
Are these under the control of the Minister's Department?
There are more than two available.
Are there more than three such instruments?
Are they available to each local authority?
No. I have a list here. They are in Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway and Limerick. There are some or all of these different types of units available in some of these places. In other places there are only two types of instruments. In all cases, except one, there is more than one instrument.
Are these the most modern instruments?
That is not the question asked.
Have we enough of them?
There are eight in Cork, nine at Drogheda, 17 in Dublin, one in Dundalk, eight in Galway and five in Limerick.