Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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223. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the ban on smoky fuels promised by his predecessor and the Taoiseach on a number of occasions in Dáil Éireann will be implemented; and the reason for the delay from the original timescale. [49613/18]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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224. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for the delay in finalising the clean air strategy in view of the fact that it is now a year since his predecessor informed Dáil Éireann that he hoped to finalise the clean air strategy within the coming weeks; and when he expects to finalise it. [49614/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together.

The question of regulation of domestic solid fuel use will be addressed in the context of the Clean Air Strategy,which will provide the framework for a set of cross-Government policies and actions to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality and public health to meet current and future EU and international obligations. Comprehensive analysis of the replies received to the public consultation on the Strategy has been completed, and my officials have been engaging with other Departments, Agencies and stakeholders, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, and the Environmental Protection Agency, in order to finalise the Strategy by the end of February 2019. A key focus of the current work is to ensure that there is maximum synergy between the Clean Air Strategy and the forthcoming National Air Pollution Control Programme mandated under the National Emission Ceilings Directive.