Ivan Yates
Question:293 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals he has to extend the coal ban to any further areas of the country. [24961/00]
Written Answers. - Ban on Coal.
In accordance with the Government commitment in An Action Programme for the Millennium, the existing ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal in Dublin and Cork was extended to Arklow, Drogheda, Dundalk, Limerick and Wexford in 1998 and to Celbridge, Galway, Leixlip, Naas and Waterford this year. The question of further extending the ban will be kept under review in the context of air quality readings over the coming heating season and the assessment of national air quality being undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency.