Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 April 2019
286. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration has been given to introducing a certification system for wood, which could ensure that only suitable wood is sold for burning. [15812/19]
View answerAll smoke, including smoke from wood burning, contains a range of toxic pollutants including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that impact on health.
There can be a big variation in the quality of wood sold in Ireland. Purchasing cheap low quality wood as a home heating fuel may prove to be a false economy as much of the energy is needed to burn off excess moisture in the wood rather than providing heat output to the consumer. The resulting reduced combustion temperature can, therefore, result in the increased generation and release of toxic and carcinogenic air pollutants including Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as dioxins which are promoted by the high chlorine levels in the fuel. While there are no statutory regulations for biomass quality, a voluntary Wood Fuel Quality Assurance scheme is in place.
In relation to air pollution more generally, recent scientific evidence indicates that it is more damaging at lower concentrations than was previously understood. With this in mind, I am committed to bringing forward Ireland's first ever National Clean Air Strategy. The Strategy, which I intend to publish this year, will provide the policy framework necessary to identify and promote integrated measures across Government that are required to reduce air pollution and promote cleaner air, while delivering on wider national objectives. Domestic solid fuel use will be addressed in the context of the strategy.
