The Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) Regulations, 1998, provides for an outright ban on all sales of bituminous, or smoky, coal from within certain designated restricted areas. The aim of these Regulations is to provide for the improvement of air quality in urban areas by restricting the sale of bituminous fuel. To date the ban has been largely successful and has led to a significant improvement in air quality in these areas.
The bituminous fuel ban has been gradually extended since it was first introduced and now applies in sixteen towns and cities around the country. These are as follows:
Dublin City and County since 1990;
Cork City since 1995;
Arklow, Drogheda, Dundalk, Limerick City and Wexford Town since 1998;
Celbridge, Galway City, Leixlip, Naas and Waterford City since 2000;
Bray, Kilkenny, Sligo and Tralee since 2003.
Fuel retailers may only sell bituminous coal to consumers from a point of sale outside of these restricted areas.
The enforcement of the Regulations is the responsibility of local authorities. Fuel retailers who breach the ban are liable for prosecution. In supporting the enforcement role of local authorities, my Department recently placed advertisements in local and regional newspapers to raise awareness of the bituminous fuel ban.
