Vol. 318 No. 7
asked the Minister for the Environment if it is proposed to monitor exhaust fumes from heavy duty vehicles including CIE buses, if he will introduce regulations to have the exhaust pipes of such vehicles extended and directed upwards along the side of the vehicles to ensure that they were directed away from pedestrians at street levels.
2.
asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, to control toxic air pollution from heavy vehicles.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The monitoring of air pollution by local authorities to total emissions to the atmosphere from all sources and separate figures on vehicular pollutants are not available. The monitoring of emissions from individual vehicles for toxicity is not feasible, but the present law provides specifically against emission of excessive smoke, which may be detected and made the subject of court action. Furthermore, the EEC directive on road worthiness tests for heavy vehicles, the implementation of which is being prepared at present, provides for a check on smoke emission. I may add that emissions from diesel engines, which are generally used on the heavier vehicles, are considered to have a lower toxic content than those from petrol engines. I have previously indicated that on grounds of practicality and cost, I do not propose to require re-location of exhaust pipes as suggested.
What criteria is used for measuring pollution or toxicity levels from heavy vehicles?
That is a separate question.
It is not.
It is very remotely related.
It is dealing with toxic——
If the Minister wishes to answer, he may. The question of controlling it and monitoring it are two separate questions.
Monitoring and measuring mean the same thing. The Minister is asked how it is proposed to monitor it.
Monitoring is carried out by the local authority which covers all aspects of air pollution but there is no method of specifically monitoring exhaust fumes as such. They can only be detected by the Garda, whose responsibility it is, if they are excessive. In that way it can be dealt with by law.
Is the Minister aware that the Garda Síochána have stated that there is no criteria and that there is no way they can prosecute any users of heavy vehicles who emit whatever pollution they like?
Question No. 3.
Air pollution by vehicles is covered under articles 30, 34, 65 and 90 of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 made under section 11 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 which provides that mechanically propelled vehicles shall be constructed, maintained and used so as to prevent, as far as reasonably possible, the emission of fumes, smoke and so on. Detection of breaches of the regulations are made by visual observations by the Garda Síochána. No measuring instruments are used.
That is the answer: there is no action being taken today against people who are polluting the atmosphere in a terrible way. One only has to go to Grafton Street to see this. Has the Minister any proposals to bring in legislation where this matter can be dealt with in an orderly fashion so that the Garda Síochána can take action under specific points?
Enforcement is a matter for the Garda. There is an EEC directive on road worthiness tests for heavy vehicles which require that certain categories of vehicles including buses and heavy commercial vehicles will be tested annually. This will include one on excessive smoke emission. This directive must be implemented here by 1983. Steps are already being taken to ensure that. It will ease the problem considerably.
Is the EEC directive in operation.
No, it will be in operation by 1983. We have taken steps in the Department to ensure that it will be implemented. It will bring about a tremendous improvement because the emission from a badly worn engine is much greater than that of an engine in good condition running well.
What about CIE?
There are some badly worn engines over there.
Steps are being taken.
Why not put it into operation straight away?
I have already called the next question.
