Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the ban on the sale and distribution of bituminous fuel in certain parts of Ireland; if he will extend this ban to other parts of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22494/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Currently a ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal applies in sixteen towns and cities around the country (Dublin since 1990, Cork since 1995, Arklow, Drogheda, Dundalk, Limerick and Wexford since 1998, Celbridge, Galway, Leixlip, Naas and Waterford since 2000, Bray, Kilkenny, Sligo and Tralee since 2003). The selection of these areas took account of air quality monitoring data and population size.

In addition to the above, in October last year the Solid Fuel Trade Group (SFTG Ltd) and the Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr Michael Kitt, T.D., signed a new voluntary agreement to maintain low levels in the sulphur emissions of bituminous coal and petcoke, and to maintain existing limitations, through smokeless zones, on the marketing, sale and distribution of solid fuels. The agreement also provides that in the towns and environs of Athlone, Carlow, Clonmel and Ennis, SFTG Ltd. will maintain the smokeless fuel market penetration level of 75%, as a percentage of overall solid fuel sales, as set out in previous agreements. These four towns are additional to those already covered by smokeless zones. A copy of the agreement is available to download from my Department's website www.environ.ie.

The question of extending the areas subject to a ban on the marketing and sale of smokeless fuels is kept under review in consultation with local authorities and having regard to the need to ensure good air quality. Monitoring at permanent and mobile monitoring stations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local authorities confirms that air quality in Ireland is good and the data currently available do not support any such extension at present. However, at my Department's request, in line with the Programme for Government commitment on monitoring air quality, the EPA recently completed a review of the mechanism by which ambient air quality is monitored. The adequacy of the air quality monitoring network, in light of population change in urban areas, is relevant in that context. It is anticipated that the final report from the EPA to the Department will be available in the near future.