Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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253. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the provisions of the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 applies to situations in which coal is imported, whether for direct delivery or redistribution throughout Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51016/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The 2011 Regulations, to which the Deputy refers, were revoked and replaced by the Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012, as amended.These Regulations extended the ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of specified bituminous fuels and introduced a ban on the residential burning of these fuels in private dwellings in specified areas to complement the existing marketing ban. 

The provisions of the Regulations apply to the fuels specified, irrespective of how they were placed on the market, including imported coal. 

It should be noted that new Regulations to provide for improved emissions standards are being introduced for a range of fuels to ensure that the most polluting will no longer be available for sale on the Irish market.  Introducing these standards will improve the quality of the air that we breathe, and the health of the public that we serve.

From September 2022, coal, coal-based products, any manufactured solid fuel or peat productswill be required to have a smoke emission rate of less than 10g/hour, reducing to 5g/hr by 2025. In order for such fuels, imported or otherwise, to be placed on the Irish market, they must comply with these standards.