Joe Walsh
Ceist:69 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to extend the smokeless fuel allowance by the extra £3 that is paid in some parts of the country to cover the remainder of the country. [1294/96]
Written Answers. - Smokeless Fuel Allowance.
The special allowance of £3 per week is paid to qualifying households in receipt of the fuel allowance from the Department of Social Welfare during the heating season (1 October to 31 March). Qualifying households are households which fulfil the Department of Social Welfare conditions and which are within the designated areas of Dublin and Cork where the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous solid fuel are prohibited.
As indicated in the reply to Question No. 121 of 27 September 1995, neither my Department's review of urban air quality in respect of the 1994-1995 heating season nor the Environmental Protection Agency's review of national air quality generally have revealed recent exceedances of statutory air quality standards. Consequently, I have no immediate plans to extend the ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous solid fuel but will be reviewing the matter in early summer after the end of the 1995-96 heating season.