Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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309. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated number of households that purchase turf from commercial operators for domestic heating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20665/22]

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent)
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316. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the effect the banning of burning will have on rural homes that need turf as a form of heating to keep them warm and the implications it will have on the people providing this turf to make a living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20832/22]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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326. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding domestic turf cutting and the sale or provision of turf to a third party. [21130/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 309, 316 and 326 together.

I remain committed to introducing new regulations on the sale of solid fuels for domestic heating in Ireland this Autumn. They will introduce minimum standards that will apply across all solid fuels, to ensure that the most polluting can no longer be made available on the Irish market and to assist the public in transitioning to less polluting alternatives. New measures are required to improve air quality and protect public health. It is estimated that each year, some 1,300 people die prematurely in Ireland due to air pollution from solid fuel burning and that there are over 16,200 life years lost. In addition, many people also experience a poor quality of life due to the associated short-term and long-term health impacts of this form of pollution. The regulations are a critical element of addressing this public health and environmental challenge and will serve to improve the quality of the air that we breathe, and the health of the public that we serve.

I am acutely aware of recent increases in energy costs due to increases internationally and, more recently, due to the crisis in Ukraine. The purpose of new solid fuel regulations is to ensure that better quality, more efficient fuels will be available on the market. Low smoke ovoids are a suitable cost-efficient alternative to other types of high polluting coal, peat and wood logs, in terms of heat delivered per cent cost.

While there is no detailed information available regarding the number of people who purchase peat, the 2016 census data indicates that approximately 5.4% of households relied upon peat as a main heating fuel, though this varies significantly at a county level. Nationally it is estimated that 128ktoe of peat are used for heating purposes.

The primary focus of these regulations is on the large-scale commercial sale of turf. I recognise that turf cutting by citizens for use in their own homes is a traditional activity across many peatland areas. Measures are required to reduce the emissions associated with burning peat, but which respect these traditions. No ban on the burning of peat will be introduced for those with rights to harvest sod peat, but measures are required to reduce its availability in more urban areas where the greatest harm can be caused. To that end, provision is proposed to prohibit the commercial sale of sod peat in areas with higher population density while allowing for traditional distribution in rural areas. This approach will facilitate those with turbary rights and traditional rural usage to continue to cut and burn sod peat for their own domestic purposes, while also reducing the use of sod peat in urban areas.

Final regulations will be agreed by Government in due course that will ensure, that while measures are introduced to enhance the quality of our air, they will not impinge upon traditional local practices associated with sod peat.