I am making a request on behalf of various coal distributors, particularly those in the mid-west area who are known to the Chair. Those in the industry are looking for a three-month stay to make a case, which is very important given the chronology of events.
On 25 September the Solid Fuel Industry Association met the Department, at which time there was no reference to the proposed ban on bituminous coal and other alternatives, such as petroleum and coke. The next the industry heard was a telephone call on the evening of 16 October, and on 16 November, a month from that date, the Minister and the Department expect those affected to have their submissions together. That is not a viable timeframe. My simple request is that the Minister give the industry an extension of time.
I am not saying I want environmental pollution. Everyone is in favour of good air quality but we have been subjected to mandatory limit levels since 1987 and we are doing well. That does not mean we stop at that but I am concerned by the effect of this on coal distributors as there may be 1,500 jobs at risk. There are 150 jobs, if not more, at risk in the Foynes and Shannon estuary area. One coal distributor who contacted me has 29 people working for him, sales representatives, administration and baggers. He has a large number of bank loans. He believes that his business will collapse totally if the proposed ban is enforced. All he and others are asking for is that the Minister look again at the proposal.
In the context of actual emissions to the atmosphere, only a tiny percentage of emissions come from heating. The biggest percentage of emissions come from transport, as we know, and power production. Moneypoint has received an extension of time to 2008, although it is a major contributor to environmental problems.
Small fuel distributors do not have replacement solid fuels. Those needing heat would have to depend on gas and electricity but if one has problems in that regard, there will be no heat. The fuel distributor who delivers fuel to elderly people in remote areas will no longer call to the door. When there is an expensive alternative, prices rise, and it is estimated in this case that prices will rise by approximately 25%.
To recap, elderly consumers, the lower income group, cannot afford central heating. In the council of which I am a member, Deputy Neville asked what is the number of people in local authority housing who have central heating, but he has not received the figure yet. I am inclined to think it will be a very small number. There is no choice for such people.
The lasting benefit to the environment, which we all want, is very little in comparison with the levels of emission into the atmosphere from the production of energy and the transport sector. I am surprised the Minister has not emphasised those issues but has left it to a small group of people with no alternative jobs. The Minister should look at a number of areas in relation to this matter, how we fare in comparison with Northern Ireland, the licensing of fuels, who will check that banned substances are not present and regulation of the situation. In the 1999 and 2000 EPA reports air quality was satisfactory and suppliers and users of bituminous coal and petroleum were not singled out.
I have not even touched on the issue of Bord na Móna. This is a major national issue. It is certainly a major issue in the mid-west. The Minister should give the industry three months to make submissions. I know the Department of the Environment and Local Government will do its bit to ensure proper air quality. However, it is the wrong time of the year for this. I presume steam trains which are used in rallies like that in Stradbally are exempted from this.