Vol. 405 No. 8
12 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Energy if he has conducted or plans to conduct any survey of the calorific value of smokeless fuels, which have come on the market since the banning of bituminous coal in Dublin, with a view to advising householders of the best value; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department have not conducted any survey on the calorific value of smokeless fuels. However, EOLAS, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, have prepared a comprehensive report for consumers on the characteristics in use of low smoke solid fuels. This report covers such issues as ignition behaviour, burning behaviour, heating performance and the safe use of solid fuels. It is available on request from EOLAS.
I have that report which, although very important, is not much use to householders. I am sure the Minister is aware it indicates the differences in the size of bags for something like 30 different smokeless fuels, 50 kilos, 40 kilos and 35 kilos. I am sure the Minister is also aware that the report indicates the difference in price for the same fuels. For example, CDL charge £8.20 for coalite and Bord na Móna charge £7.20 for the same fuel. The report indicates the length of burning time of fuel in 12 hours but it does not give a comprehensive report to consumers on the best fuel for use in their grates, indicating calorific value, the amount of fuel they get to a bag and the price.
I appeal for brevity.
Will the Minister do something for the consumers who are paying such an exhorbitant price for — sometimes — useless coal which damages their fire-grates? The Minister has not given them any information in regard to what they are purchasing.
That should be adequate.
I should emphasise that my Department have responsibility for the supplies of fuels, including coal, and we have been making every effort to ensure that stocks are adequate and that supplies continue. Questions as to the cost of these fuels and their safety will have to be resolved with the Department of Industry and Commerce. We must bear in mind that this year has been a baptism of fire for the smokeless fuel industry and has involved much trial and error on the part of consumers and the coal industry alike. When the current heating season draws to an end I expect my Department, together with the Department of the Environment and the Department of Industry and Commerce, will meet further to discuss many of the issues which have been raised in this House and by people outside it. We have gone through the first year with a major change in the consumption of solid fuel in Dublin City. We expected and anticipated some difficulties, but every effort will be made to eliminate those difficulties by the advent of the next winter fuel season.
The Minister has not replied specifically to the question I asked. He is responsible for the supply of these fuels. My question is if the Minister will inform the consumers in regard to the supply of the material, what material they are getting, how much they are getting and the calorific value and price value of what is being supplied to them.
These issues will have to be raised between my Department and the Department of Industry and Commerce. For instance, the question of whether products meet the requirements of the Department of the Environment legislation is a matter for policing by the Department of Industry and Commerce and not by me.
Will the Minister pursue that?
I will, yes. The three Ministers are closely in touch with each other in regard to this matter. By coincidence we all happen to be members of the same party. We are very anxious that proper standards be laid down in this matter and that the programme to rid Dublin of smog be successful.
The Minister referred to a baptism of fire. If it had been a baptism of fire for Dubliners they would have been happy with it but these fuels provided inadequate heat, there was great difficulty in getting them to light and much additional expense for the consumer. It is estimated that what it costs to keep a fire burning for four hours with these how fuels would have kept a fire burning for a full day last year.
The Minister referred to the EOLAS leaflet. It is extremely helpful but it was not sent to householders. It gives information as to ignition qualities, spitting qualities, calorific qualities and so on of these fuels. The Minister should ensure that the leaflet is supplied to householders instead of issuing a general blurb on cleaning up Dublin's air, something everyone is willing to contribute to anyway. The people pitched in but they were let sink by the Government and have to find their way through vast lists of fuels with which they were totally unfamiliar——
Deputy, brevity please.
Will the Minister ensure that the detailed information in the EOLAS leaflet is made available to every household as distinct from the general blurb that was supposed to be distributed by the Department of the Environment?
Please, Deputy Flaherty, I asked for brevity. The Chair should be obeyed.
So as not to undermine all the good work that has been done in terms of air quality by way of people turning away from these fuels, will the Minister meet with his Ministerial colleagues and put the whole thing right?
That should be sufficient, Deputy.
The fuel traders have a major responsibility to inform their customers as to what they are purchasing. I take the Deputy's point and I will have it looked into.
In view of the great difficulties being experienced by many householders, particularly in the Dublin area, is the Minister prepared to consider providing grant assistance for householders who have to replace their fireplaces by virtue of the new arrangement?
The Deputy is raising a separate matter.
There is no question of grants. The difficulties that arose in regard to grates or fireplaces arose because people were using petroleum coke on its own.
How were they to know when the Minister did not tell them? He is the person responsible.
The trade have voluntarily withdrawn the sale of petroleum coke from the market-place.
