Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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185. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will clarify the channels through which persons with turbary rights can continue to sell turf; the fines that can be imposed on both sellers and consumers who sell or purchase turf outside of the permissible channels; the financial supports that are available to self-employed persons whose livelihood has been lost through the new regulations on the sale of solid fuels for domestic heating in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57766/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The new regulations on the sale of solid fuels for domestic heating in Ireland came into operation on 31 October 2022. They introduce minimum standards that 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.Under the regulations, those with turbary rights can continue to cut turf for their own use and they retain the ability to gift or sell turf to others, provided this is not done by way of the internet or other media, or from a retail premises (including shops, garages and filling stations, fuel yards, and public houses and other public places).

Prosecutions for infractions of the regulations can be taken by Local Authorities, under the Air Pollution Act and the imposition and extent of any fine would be a matter for the Courts to determine. There are no offence provisions contained in the regulations with respect to the purchase of turf.

No financial supports are planned for any sector distributing solid fuels which are subject to the standards and provisions provided for in the new regulations. I announced in September 2021 that the regulations would come into effect for the 2022/2023 heating season. I made the announcement at that time in order to allow suppliers and retailers sufficient time to run down existing stocks and plan accordingly for the introduction of the new regulatory framework. Over the past year, officials from my Department have been working with retailer representative bodies to support the transition to the new regulations. More information for retailers can be found at: