Ivor Callely
Ceist:40 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if there has been any noticeable reduction in the number of chest, bronchial or respiratory complaints since the ban on sale of bituminous coal in the Dublin area.
Written Answers. - Bituminous Coal Ban.
I am glad to be able to report to the House that the bituminous coal ban has had a definite beneficial clinical effect on respiratory health for patients with problems such as bronchitis and asthma. Analysis of hospital admissions in the Eastern Health Board area indicates a reduction in admissions for respiratory problems compared to last year. Medical consultants contacted by my Department have commented on the improvement of their patients this year compared to last year. There has been a marked decrease in the number of acute asthma attacks and in the necessity for admission for asthmatic and obstructive disease conditions since the coal restrictions were introduced. In addition, not only has there been a reduction in emergency referrals and presentations but it has also been noticed that those patients with moderately severe asthma tend to be much better controlled. As a result it has been possible to discharge far more patients to their family doctors, rather than keeping them under review, since there is less smoke in the environment.
Clearly, a detailed study of respiratory morbidity across the entire city would be needed to give irrefutable scientific proof of this improvement. Nevertheless there is no doubt in my mind that the virtual absence of smog since the ban on the sale of bituminous coal is largely responsible for these very welcome trends in respiratory complaints.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all concerned with improving our environment.