Vol. 499 No. 3
261 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will express, as a percentage, the degree to which motor exhaust emissions have decreased in each of the past ten years in view of the advances in technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2533/99]
Advances in vehicle emission control technology have resulted in significant pollution reductions from individual motor vehicles since the first EU directive on vehicle emission control standards was adopted in 1970. Since then, progressively more stringent standards have been set and the implementation of the 1998 EU Auto Oil 1 Programme will require further emission reductions from the years 2000 and 2005.
Isolating the impact of changes in vehicle emission control technologies over a period of time from the effects of other changes, for example, in vehicle size, vehicle characteristics or use characteristics, has not, to my Department's knowledge, been undertaken in Ireland. However, overall growth in the transport sector, measured by vehicle fleet size and kilometres travelled, is counterbalancing technological improvements in individual vehicle standards which would otherwise have the effect of reducing emissions.
