John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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354. To ask the Minister for Health the status of work to secure the implementation of a nationwide smoky coal ban; if he has engaged with officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment since January 2020 on the matter; his views from a health perspective regarding ongoing delays in implementing a nationwide smoky coal ban; if he has studied the report on the health consequences from poor air quality by the Environmental Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9906/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Policy responsibility regarding the implementation of a nationwide smoky coal ban is a matter for the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment but this has been the subject of cross-Departmental engagement.

I welcome and fully support the extension of the smoky coal ban announced by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in December 2019. I am fully aware of the impact poor air quality can have on human health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report Air Quality in Ireland 2018,which was published in September 2019, estimated that poor air quality causes up to 1,180 premature deaths per annum in Ireland. I understand that my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, is continuing to work on this issue including consultation with relevant Local Authorities and drafting the necessary secondary legislation.