Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of incidents involving carbon monoxide in homes that were reported in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4685/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless poisonous gas and is a common, yet preventable, cause of death from poisoning worldwide. Approximately half of the deaths from unintentional carbon monoxide poisonings result from the inhalation of smoke from fires. Other significant causes are vehicle exhausts and deaths in industrial / commercial settings. In recent years between two and six people died each year in Ireland from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning in the home, in incidents related to domestic heating or other fossil fuel installations in the home.

Carbon monoxide is not just an issue for those using gas as their fuel source. The incomplete combustion of organic fossil fuels such as oil, coal or wood, as well as gas, is a common cause of carbon monoxide formation, and is responsible for many cases of non-fatal unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. In normal conditions, the combustion process will result in carbon in the fossil fuel combining with oxygen in the air to produce carbon dioxide, the same substance we exhale when we breathe. However, if there is a lack of air for the combustion process or the heating appliance is faulty, carbon monoxide can be produced.

Approximately six incidents involving, or potentially involving, carbon monoxide gas have been reported in Ireland in the past 12 months. The exact number will be known when the report for quarter four 2012 issues from the Commissioner for Energy Regulation (CER) next month. As investigations into some of the incidents reported last year have not been concluded; it may not possible to determine by next month that they did indeed involve carbon monoxide. Given the clear need to act to prevent accidents and mitigate risks, I launched the first Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week on the 24 September 2012. This involved a week which saw a sustained, multi-media publicity campaign to alert people to the dangers and give them advice as to what they should do to be safe. The issue was widely reported on television, on national and local radio and in both national and local press.

Additionally my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, has recently revised the Building Regulations so that it will become compulsory to fit approved carbon monoxide alarms to certain types of new building. A lot of work has been done on the relevant standards that apply to these alarms, both at national and at European level. The Gas Technical Standards Committee of the National Standards Authority of Ireland is currently working on guidance documentation to assist with proper installation of such alarms. They also issued a special standard to fill the gap until the relevant European Standard can be enhanced.

I should also highlight the commendable work done by the gas industry to raise safety standards and participate in the establishment of a register of approved gas installers. This has been a hugely important development in improving quality control in gas matters, including reducing the risk posed by carbon monoxide in gas installations. This “joined-up” approach to matters relating to carbon monoxide can be well demonstrated by the specific campaign last year to warn the public about gas cookers which could be operated in an unsafe manner, creating a carbon monoxide hazard. Industry, government, regulator, standards authority and the National Consumer Agency all acted together to identify and promote the risks and the solutions to consumers. As a result, very many potentially dangerous appliances were identified and made safe. Finally, I assure the Deputy that I take this matter very seriously, and that I intend to launch this year’s Carbon Monoxide Week after the summer.