Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020
73. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the position on banning smoky coal fuel; and if provisions will be made for exemptions for certain vintage machinery such as locomotive engines and tractors. [27829/20]
View answerFrom 1 September 2020, I established 13 new Low Smoke Zones (LSZs). The effect of this latest important step is that all Irish towns with populations in excess of 10,000 are now LSZs within which the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal is prohibited. This will have a positive impact in terms of reducing particulate matter and sulphur dioxide levels in the areas selected, with consequent public health benefits for residents of these new zones.
We have given a commitment in the Programme for Government to work towards a full nationwide extension of the regulations over the lifetime of the Government. The Department is taking the first step in this process by developing a public consultation document which recognises the need for a more comprehensive approach to the regulation of solid fuel generally, including other smoky fuels in addition to bituminous coal, with a view to ensuring a transition to lower polluting fuels for residential heating. Responses received to the consultation will help to inform the decisions to be made regarding the implementation and enforcement of a nationwide extension. It is intended to commence this public consultation process later this year.
In relation to vintage machinery, the current ban on the sale, marketing, distribution and burning of bituminous coal applies to such coal that is placed on the market for residential heating. This means there is no prohibition on the burning of bituminous coal for the purposes of powering vintage machinery such as the examples given by the Deputy.
