asked the Minister for Local Government how many inspectors are employed at present on the enforcement of controls relating to air pollution; and how many other staff are engaged (a) whole time and (b) part time on this work.
44.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Air Pollution.
43.
asked the Minister for Local Government how many prosecutions were made under existing legislation controlling air pollution (a) this year and (b) in each of the last five years.
45.
asked the Minister for Local Government how many inspectors will be recruited to enforce the Control of Atmospheric Pollution Regulations, 1970, which will come into force on 1st January next; and where they will be based.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 43, 44 and 45 together.
Certain duties in relation to air pollution control are performed by health inspectors, of which there are about 160. I am not in a position to say what proportion of the time of those officers is taken up with those duties or how many other staff are at present engaged by sanitary authorities fulltime or part time on this work. An officer of my Department holds the post of the Chief Alkali Inspector under the Alkali etc. Works Regulation Act, 1906. There were no prosecutions this year or in any of the previous five years under this Act. Statistics of prosecutions for breach of other existing air pollution controls are not available in my Department.
It will be a matter for each sanitary authority to decide how many inspectors will be assigned to air pollution control duties when the Control of Atmospheric Pollution Regulations, 1970 come into force.
Surely the Minister must be aware that if there are inspectors there should be prosecutions in a period of five years? I am sure everybody here has noticed from time to time very heavy smoke emitting from heavy vehicles and also pollution caused by them over the past five years. What is the use of having inspectors if no action is taken?
The emission of heavy smoke from vehicles is a matter for the Garda Síochána under the Road Traffic Act, 1961. I can deal here only with matters which are the responsibility of my Department. The only controls for which I am responsible at present are those exercisable under the Alkali, etc., Works Regulation Act, 1906, and that Act only applies in relation to certain specified industries. The Deputy should not assume that prosecutions should have been made unless he has evidence. If the Deputy has any knowledge of these specified industries creating pollution which would warrant prosecutions, I would ask him to please bring them to my notice and I will have the matter dealt with.
Is the Minister aware that one of the great difficulties in enforcement of regulations in relation to air pollution is that the officers concerned have not the power to enter on premises to measure the degree of pollution at the point at which the smoke enters the atmosphere? They have this power in relation to water or effluent from factories which is coming into sewerage but they have not got it in relation to air pollution. The regulations are therefore difficult to enforce and that is where the Minister should employ his energies at the moment.
The Control of Atmospheric Pollution Regulations, 1970, will come into force on 1st January, 1971. If there are any anomalies in their operation they will only come to light then.
I warn the Minister if he looks at the regulations he will find what I say is true.