asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a statement (1) outlining the Government's policy with regard to air-pollution legislation including smokeless zones; and (2) in relation to the harmful effects and dangerous toxins associated with fuels which do not emit smoke, but could in fact be more harmful to the environment.
Written Answers. - Control of Air Pollution.
57.
In August 1985 the Government gave approval to the drafting of a Bill to update and extend existing legislation on the control of air pollution. It is intended that the Bill will permit the full implementation of EC legislation and will provide local authorities with all necessary powers to ensure good air quality in their areas. Drafting of the Bill is now in progress.
The information available in regard to urban air quality generally, and in Dublin in particular, indicates that the pollutant giving most cause for concern is smoke arising from the combustion of solid fuels. Various options for dealing with smoke pollution, and the costs and other implications of different solutions, including smokeless zones, are being examined in my Department.
All fuels, depending on their intrinsic qualities, emit pollutants such as sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons in varying quantities. These pollutants, above certain concentrations, can have harmful effects but I am not aware that they give rise to any general problems in this country.
The most commonly used smokeless fuel at the moment is natural gas. While combustion of natural gas gives rise to emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, the levels of such emissions are no greater than emissions of these pollutants from smoke-emitting fuels such as coal. The same situation obtains for smokeless solid fuels. As regards sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, EC limit values for the protection of health and the environment have already been provided and will be enforced, in this country, under the new air pollution legislation.
In so far as emissions from fuel used in motor vehicles are concerned, work is being finalised at EC level on stringent new standards for emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. For petrol driven engines, a recent EC directive requires unleaded petrol to be available by October 1989 at the latest and invites member states to reduce the lead content of leaded petrol from 0.4 to 0.15 grammes per litre as soon as appropriate. I intend to make regulations shortly to provide for such a reduction in this country in 1986.