Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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492. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to him extending the smoky coal ban to towns in County Wicklow effective 1 May 2013, if he intends banning smoky coal in other areas (details supplied) in view of its proven health benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25854/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In April 2012, I announced a public consultation to inform and assist a review of the smoky coal ban. Following a review of submissions received under this process, I gave effect to new consolidating solid fuel regulations, the Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 326 of 2012). These Regulations introduced a number of improved and updated provisions to ensure that the smoky coal ban remains fit for purpose in safeguarding air quality by limiting harmful emissions of air pollutants arising from the use of residential fuels.

The Regulations extended the smoky coal ban to seven new towns with effect from 1 May 2013. The ban now applies in all towns with a population greater than 15,000 people. Greystones is among the towns added to the ban and the Greystones ban area includes the adjoining village of Delgany. Maps of all smoky coal ban areas are available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Atmosphere/AirQuality/SmokyCoalBan/.

Air quality monitoring by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has shown that air quality is poorer in towns where the smoky coal ban does not apply. However, smaller smoky coal ban areas tend to be less effective, with residents living inside smaller ban areas more easily able to source smoky coal being sold outside the ban area. As such, the further extension of the ban to smaller towns on an individual basis may not be the best approach.

Notwithstanding the regulatory improvements brought about by the new Regulations, I recognise that having different standards applying to coal between larger urban and smaller urban/rural locations is not ideal, as it results in different levels of environmental protection and clean air benefits for people across these different locations. While I have set the challenging target of introducing a ban on smoky coal across the State within the next three years, I fully recognise the cross-border enforcement difficulties arising, if a national ban is introduced unilaterally in the South rather than on an all-island basis.

With this in mind, I announced on 6 May that a joint North-South study is being commissioned, in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment, to examine emissions from residential heating, and in particular, air pollution from residential smoky coal in both jurisdictions and the potential policy options to reduce such emissions. A more effective alignment of solid fuel policy and legislation on an all-island basis would support the introduction of a nationwide smoky coal ban. In addition to the clean air benefits, a nationwide ban would facilitate more effective enforcement, promote broader regulatory compliance and help to eliminate black market activities.