Sir, - Padraig O'Fearail (January 22nd) highlighted some very valid points about the environmental benefits of using Liquified Petroleum Gas for private and public motor vehicles.Across Europe, LP Gas is being increasingly identified as a "clean" fuel, with significantly lower emission levels than diesel or petrol. Particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds (which now replaces lead in petrol) can all exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma and also increase susceptibility to lung infections. LP Gas emissions of nitrogen dioxide are only 8 per cent of those of diesel, and emissions of particular matter are 6 per cent. As part of their air quality strategies, several European countries have introduced financial incentives for motorists using cleaner fuels such as LP Gas. These include lower excise-duty levels and lower vehicle registration tax. In addition, many European cities are converting all or part of their public transport fleets to LP Gas.In their 1996 Air Quality Monitoring Report, the Environmental Protection Agency identified road traffic as the greatest threat to air quality, especially in urban areas. Unlike most EU states, Ireland has no air quality strategy to deal with this growing threat. As a result, there is no official endorsement of, or encouragement for, the use of clean fuels for buses, taxis, heavy goods vehicles and private transport.
Indeed, many of the diesel-powered Dublin Bus vehicles operating within the city centre may well be contributing to the deterioration of the capital's air quality.The Irish LP Gas Association has recently launched the "Cleaner Air 2000 Campaign" with the aim of bringing Ireland into line with other EU countries in the use of cleaner fuels. In the absence of a national air quality strategy, this campaign will seek greater support from the Government for the use of cleaner fuels through innovative financial instruments.Mr O'Fearail also reflects some of the Irish LP Gas Association's concerns over the eroding retailing infrastructure for LPG. It is indeed ironic that Ireland is in the lucky position of having an existing infrastructure for dispensing LP Gas on the forecourt. In France and the UK, where there is now wide recognition of the advantages of the fuel, the greatest difficulty facing the authorities is the lack of retail infrastructure. It will cost both countries millions to overcome this difficulty.The infrastructure in Ireland will erode unless there is Government intervention in support of LP Gas. In the interests of a cleaner environment, surely the Government should strongly support the choice of a cleaner fuel for motorists on the petrol forecourt.- Yours, etc.,Sean McCourt,Chairman,Irish LP Gas Association,St Agnes Road,Dublin 12.