Vol. 490 No. 5
14 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his immediate and long-term policies for dealing with the high levels of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and lead in Dublin and Cork, as a consequence of increased traffic levels; the response the Minister of State, Deputy Wallace, gave at the EU Council meeting in Brussels on 23 March 1998; when this matter was discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10460/98]
There has been a significant growth in road traffic volumes in Ireland in recent years and this is giving rise to increases in journey times in peak urban conditions. While there are obvious implications for urban air quality, monitoring data show that overall air quality is generally good and all mandatory national and EU ambient standards, including in Dublin and Cork, continue to be met. Air quality management planning is a local authority function under the Air Pollution Act, 1987.
Under EU Directive 96/62/EC regarding ambient air quality assessment and management, a proposed subsidiary directive relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air is under discussion in the EU Council of Environment Ministers and the European Parliament. During an open debate at the Council meeting on 23 March 1998, I indicated that Ireland supports the proposal, but acknowledged that the proposed limit value for NOx and PM 10 especially will be challenging in some heavily trafficked urban areas.
Measures already taken, such as the bans on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal in Dublin and Cork and the promotion of the sale of unleaded petrol, have made significant contributions to reduced levels of SO 2 and lead in the atmosphere. I am satisfied we are well placed to meet the stringent standards proposed for these pollutants.
The thrust of policies within the EU since 1970 regarding emissions from motor vehicles has been, and continues to be, based on vehicle type approval and emissions standards. Successively more stringent standards for passenger and goods vehicles have been laid down and Ireland continues to comply with all EU vehicle emission control directives. Ireland also continues to support the developing EU auto oil programme as an appropriate means of addressing many of the environmental issues arising from vehicle emissions. The programme will introduce further measures to reduce emissions from vehicles as well as more stringent fuel standards to apply from the year 2000 and later from 2005. These will assist in meeting the proposed new limit values for NOx and PM 10.
Traffic management strategies for the major urban areas, including Dublin and Cork, have regard to environmental factors. Major road improvements for these areas are also designed to bring benefits in terms of environmental quality. Local measures such as the Dublin Transportation Initiative and traffic management measures elsewhere, the improvement of public transport, the promotion of other alternatives to the private car in major urban areas and the extension of compulsory vehicle testing will assist in the response to urban traffic increases and associated vehicle emissions.
I promise the Minister of State I will not refer to him as "Minister of State, Danny Morrison," as the chairman of the environment committee recently did. Will the Minister of State tell me if he is disappointed action to reduce on street vehicle emissions in Dublin has been deferred even further by the Government's crazy decision on the Luas? Although the Minister of State claims air quality in Dublin and Cork is generally good, will he indicate what has been the trend in the concentrations of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, lead and particulate matter in the air in those two cities in any recent period? Will he confirm the trend is for the concentrations of those substances in the air to increase? Will he indicate whether he is satisfied we have a sufficient number of sampling points in those two cities to be sure we have a reasonable picture of the concentrations of those substances?
We must recognise that because of the unprecedented success of our economy there has been a large increase in the number of vehicles on our roads in the last decade. The number of private vehicles has increased from 700,000 to one million in that time and it is estimated that number will increase to 1.6 million by the year 2010. The increase in the number of people using private vehicles has environmental consequences.
We have made progress in reducing vehicle emissions because of improved technology in motor vehicles and new initiatives in the transport area. Our approach to dealing with this problem is progressive. Because of the unprecedented level of development there is a problem in this area. However, I emphasise air quality throughout the country does not breach any national or international standards; it complies with EU standards.
We support the proposed EU directive under negotiation, on which I had the opportunity to speak at a recent EU meeting, because we believe it is the right approach. From 1970 we have complied with EU standards in this area and I am confident we will be able to do so in the future.
The Minister of State did not answer any of the questions I put to him. I ask him again to confirm that the concentrations of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, lead and particulate matter in air in the cities of Dublin and Cork in recent years has been increasing. I am not challenging the fact that, as he stated, we comply with EU standards. I want to know if I am right in understanding that the concentrations of those substances in the air in those two cities are increasing.
Is the Minister of State satisfied that the number of sampling points for taking air samples in Dublin and Cork is sufficient for us to be sure we have a proper picture of the air quality of the two cities? In my opinion we do not have enough sampling points and, therefore, we cannot be sure that we are getting a proper picture. I ask the Minister of State to reply to those two questions instead of giving me another statement of general principles. Will he indicate if in the context of the challenging proposals he is proposing to support in the new European Union directive, on which I agree with him, the Government intends to take action of any concrete kind to reduce the overall level of vehicle emissions in Dublin and Cork for a start by taking any action that will affect the volume of motorised traffic on the streets of those two cities?
The monitoring of air quality in an area is a matter for the local authority concerned. The Government is very conscious of this problem and has a policy on this area. Its policy includes improved vehicle technology implemented in type approval of vehicle emission standards, greater investment in and use of public transport, better integration of public and private transport, better interaction between transportation and land use planning, better traffic management and management of the demand for road use, mandatory vehicle testing from 1999 and promotion of cycling and walking. I believe that in all of these areas there is an opportunity in the wider community to participate in relation to the whole environment. I do not believe there is a particular sector on which the responsibility falls with regard to how we go forward on the environment.
I ask——
Deputy Dukes, we are on the first Priority Question and there are a number of others. It must be a very short supplementary question.
May I make a brief suggestion to the Minister?
There is no point in asking supplementary questions.
I ask the Minister to examine the record, which he will get later this afternoon. Will he provide me separately with the information I sought on the trend in recent years in the concentration of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and lead in the air in Dublin and Cork? Will the Minister also undertake to give me separately the number of sampling points for air quality in the cities of Dublin and Cork since he obviously does not have the information in his brief? I find it astonishing that a Minister would come in here to answer a question like that without one single particle — I use the word advisedly — of information about the matter.
I would be glad to provide the information to the Deputy and it is available in the Library if he needs it.
I want it from the Minister.
