asked the Minister for the Environment if there is evidence of acid rain pollution in Ireland; and if tests are carried out regularly.

Acidity in rainfall is monitored on a monthly basis at eight Irish meteorological stations and on a daily basis at one further station. While the figures suggest a gradual, though irregular, trend towards increasing acidity over the past 20 years, the actual levels are well below those recorded in more industrialised countries and are regarded as satisfactory.