Vol. 396 No. 4
58 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for the Environment whether all vehicles owned and/or run by both State and semi-State companies will be converted to the use of lead free petrol; whether it is the intention to install catalytic converters to all such vehicles; and if he will give a time scale for such works.
Since June 1989, all vehicles assigned to Garda headquarters have been using unleaded petrol. This includes cars in the Ministerial fleet which are capable of doing so. The Garda authorities are making arrangements for use of unleaded in the remainder of the fleet where this is practicable. Local authorities and other bodies under the aegis of my Department have also been requested to ensure that existing petrol driven vehicles use unleaded petrol, where possible, and that all new petrol driven vehicles purchased by them are capable of using unleaded. Other Ministers have been taking similar action in relation to bodies under their aegis.
It is not the intention to retrofit catalytic converters to vehicles in use by local authorities and other bodies under the aegis of my Department. However, strict new emission standards to be enforced with effect from December 1992 in the case of first registrations will require the fitting of catalytic converters to new cars.
