Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there are proposals to lower the threshold of a population greater than 15,000 to allow smaller towns and zones to be included in the smokeless fuel policy; and if a review of the policy has been carried out. [34050/08]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The question of extension of the areas subject to smokeless fuels is kept under review in consultation with local authorities and having regard to the need to ensure good air quality. Monitoring at permanent and mobile monitoring stations by the EPA and local authorities confirms that air quality in Ireland is good and does not, at this time, provide any data in support of any such extension.

The question of the need for extending the air quality monitoring network including to cover additional urban areas due to population changes has been raised with the Environmental Protection Agency in the context of an overall monitoring review which has been requested by my Department as part of the Programme for Government commitment on monitoring air quality. I expect the EPA will conclude this review by year end.

This morning the Solid Fuel Trade Group and I signed a new voluntary agreement to maintain low levels in the sulphur emissions of bituminous coal and petcoke and to maintain existing limitations through smokeless zones on the marketing, sale and distribution of solid fuels. The agreement also provides that in the towns and environs of Athlone, Carlow, Clonmel and Ennis, SFTG Ltd. will maintain the smokeless fuel market penetration level of 75%, as a percentage of overall solid fuel sales, as set out in previous agreements. These 4 towns are additional to those already covered by smokeless zones.