Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position with regard to smokeless fuel for the Kilpedder area of County Wicklow; his plans to introduce smokeless fuel for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26952/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 579 of 21 June 2005.

The 1990 regulations banning the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal were originally made to address the winter smog situation prevalent in the Dublin area at that time, and have since been extended to 15 other areas taking account of the analysis of air quality monitoring data and also of population size. On the basis of these criteria, the ban currently applies to two towns in County Wicklow, Bray and Arklow.

A June 2002 voluntary agreement between my Department and the solid fuel trade group provided, inter alia, for the delivery of significantly cleaner standards for bituminous coal and petcoke on a phased basis. Under this agreement, there is currently a temporary moratorium on the designation of further coal ban areas during the life of the agreement except where required to ensure adherence to air quality standards. The agreement also provided for an initial review by end-2003 and a final review by end-2004, with the ambition of setting further targets from 2005 onwards.

My Department reviewed the operation of the voluntary agreement in 2003 but the final review due by the end of December 2004 was postponed following the granting of a moratorium on the step down to 2004 sulphur levels in petcoke for the 2004-2005 heating season. The moratorium was requested by the trade group and was granted to help the industry through a difficult interim supply period, triggered by exceptional levels of demand for petcoke tonnages internationally which made the sourcing of lower sulphur fuels problematic for the industry.

The agreement is now undergoing its final review and discussions are under way with a view to maximising environmental benefits from the new arrangements. It is not envisaged that the ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal will be extended to rural areas.