Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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48. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the burning of peat briquettes will cease. [5271/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to “extend the Smoky Coal ban to new towns and over the term of government move towards a full nationwide ban”. However, the provision of additional data from our enhanced National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme and Environmental Protection Agency funded research projects also indicates the extent to which other solid fuels, such as peat and wet wood, contribute to localised high levels of particulate matter and other pollutants during the heating season.   It is, therefore, appropriate that we consider a new approach to the broader regulation of all solid fuels, expanding our ambition with the objective of achieving greater reductions in air pollution levels. The next step in this process will be a public consultation which will seek views in relation to the national application of the regulations currently applied to bituminous coal, as well as informing the development of appropriate regulatory controls for other residential solid fuels.

This will be an opportunity for all parties - consumers, retailers, producers and industry, to consider the issues, input to the process at the earliest stage, and to consider alternatives as appropriate.