Vol. 479 No. 3
14 Miss Quill asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to put in place a testing facility for the testing of solid fuel for sulphur content, identification and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12873/97]
18 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for the Environment if he has satisfied himself that the implementation of regulations in respect of the banning of smokey coal in Cork and in Dublin is being enforced in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12876/97]
22 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Environment if he has satisfied himself that the implementation of regulations in respect of banning of smokey coal in Cork and in Dublin is being enforced in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12884/97]
75 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to further extend the ban on burning butuminous coal in urban areas. [12912/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 18, 22 and 75 together.
Regulations made under the Air Pollution Act, 1987, prohibiting the marketing, sale and distribution of certain solid fuels in areas of Dublin and Cork, designate Forbairt as the body to provide relevant local authorities with a solid fuel testing service. For bairt has experienced commercial difficulties in continuing to provide this service and my Department is currently examining the options for providing local authorities with access to more widespread fuel testing facilities. This forms part of a wider review, in consultation with the local authorities concerned, of the effectiveness of the existing regulatory arrangements.
Preliminary analysis of monitoring results for the 1996-1997 heating season demonstrate satisfactory air quality in all monitored areas, relative to the statutory standards for smoke and sulphur dioxide. I have no immediate plans to extend controls on bituminous fuels to urban areas beyond Dublin and Cork but I will review the matter when I receive a detailed analysis from the Environmental Protection Agency of the full air quality monitoring results for the 1996-1997 heating season.
