Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)

I am raising this matter because I have been contacted by constituents who are concerned about the lack of a ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, smoky coal as it is generally called, in Wicklow town and the wider Greystones area. I am concerned about this issue as the health implications are significant for those inhaling this smog, as evidenced by the reduction in the number of deaths, estimated to be in the hundreds, when the ban was first introduced in the wider Dublin area in the early 1990s.

I was first contacted about this matter by a father of two young children who suffered from asthma. Their neighbours burn high bituminous coal and the prevailing wind blows the resulting smog straight in through their bedroom windows. The black carbon particulate matter can penetrate deep into the lungs of those who breathe it in. This is clearly not tenable for the family, nor is it tenable for the other elderly residents who have contacted me from Wicklow and Greystones and are concerned about their own health. It is clear that exposure, even below the mandatory levels, can have adverse effects on health, particularly of those prone to respiratory problems.

During the years many other towns and cities have been added to the list of areas in which a ban has been put in place. They include Arklow in 1998 and my home town, Bray, in 2003. The results of these additions have demonstrated a reduction in black smoke emissions in the range of 70% in cities to a minimum of 45% in towns. This is welcome. I would, therefore, certainly like to see an extension of the ban to Wicklow town and Greystones. Not only, as I said, would it have immediate health benefits but there would also be wider policy implications. As a country, we should be reducing our dependence on fossil fuels such as smoky coal that has a high carbon content and relatively inefficient combustion when compared to other fuel sources. In doing so, we could help to tackle climate change and improve energy efficiency. A recent UN report demonstrates that the replacement of coal with smokeless coal for cooking and residential heating offers the prospect of a large potential reduction in emissions. Further reports indicates that by 2020, small-scale residential heating systems will be the source of about half of all black carbon emissions and, therefore, the most dominant form.

I know the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is undertaking a review of the situation, which is very welcome. Given the recent census results which demonstrated a large increase in the population of County Wicklow and that Wicklow town and Greystones were significant urban areas, it is incumbent on us to consider adding them to the list of places where only smokeless fuels may be used. I would not like to see another winter when the level of home heating is at its highest with increased smog levels. We must endeavour to do what we can to protect the health of the most vulnerable members of our communities. I, therefore, urge the Minister to take these points on board when coming to a decision on the results of the review.

See this speech in context