Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 459: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the implementation timeline for the planned new law for a low-sulfur standard for coal which he announced on 9 June 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22052/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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On 7 June 2011 I signed the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) (Amendment) Regulations 2011. These Regulations require that all bituminous coal placed on the market for residential use must have a sulfur content of no more than 0.7%. This provision came into immediate effect and now applies throughout the State.

The Regulations place the main provision of an existing Voluntary Agreement between my Department and the Solid Fuel Trade Group (SFTG), representing the majority of major coal importers, on a statutory footing. The Voluntary Agreement, which has been in place since 2002, has reduced noxious emissions to air which result from the use of bituminous coal in residential dwellings. The Regulations consolidate the environmental and related human health benefits achieved by the Agreement.

The Regulations were prepared following an extensive consultation process between my Department and key stakeholders, which included the Environmental Protection Agency, local authorities and the SFTG. This consultation process commenced in November 2009 and continued up to the time that the Regulations were signed into law. My Department has ongoing contact with these stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the Regulations.