Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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57. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of dedicated funding that will be provided to each local authority to monitor and enforce the smoky coal ban and any future solid fuel regulations as part of the forthcoming Clean Air Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14054/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Local Authorities are responsible for the enforcement of the solid fuel regulations, identifying unauthorised fuels placed on the market and taking measures to counteract any illegal trade. They are also responsible for the allocation of appropriate resources to ensure that they can fulfil their air quality enforcement obligations. It is at the discretion of each Local Authority to decide its own priorities and to allocate staff and resources accordingly. Funding of such services would generally be met from the Exchequer and Local Authority own resources.

My Department and the Local Government Management Agency are continuing to work together to establish an enhanced enforcement support structure. This structure will support the provision of improved co-ordination, expertise, and advice to support consistent implementation of air quality legislation across the country.

In the interim, my Department is also continuing to engage with enforcement personnel on the ground, developing guidance and training, and supporting the sharing of best practice in relation to a range of legislative obligations that are under the remit of the Local Authorities.

I also made grant funding available in 2022 to support Local Authorities through a pilot solid fuels enforcement scheme to support innovation and enhanced enforcement of the new solid fuel regulations. The Local Authorities involved have reported on the outcomes of their pilot enforcement schemes.

I intend to make €500,000 available to Local Authorities in the coming months for further enforcement projects to be undertaken later this year and will continue to work with the sector into the future to provide further co-ordination and support as appropriate.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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58. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the forthcoming Clean Air Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14055/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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A public consultation on the draft Clean Air Strategy was undertaken during the period March to May of last year and over 100 submissions were received. The strategy has now been reviewed and updated to reflect both the outcome of the consultation process and policy developments which have occurred in the intervening period that impact on plans to improve the quality of our air.

The strategy will outline how we will enhance and protect the air we breathe, and set out a pathway, based on a comprehensive cross-Government programme of policies and measures, that will tackle all sources of air pollution. As such, it will also consider the impact of Climate Action Plan 2023 and new proposals at EU level for a revised Ambient Air Quality Directive.

It is my intention to publish the Clean Air Strategy in the coming weeks.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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59. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of enforcement notices and prosecutions as reported to the agency by local authorities in each of the years 2018 to 2022, and to date in 2023 under the updated Solid Fuel Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14056/23]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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60. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the maximum fine administered for breaches under the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 529 of 2022); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14057/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department does not compile or maintain statistics in relation to the levels of enforcement actions by Local Authorities under the Solid Fuels Regulations. Local Authorities report this information as part of their enforcement activities under environmental legislation to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on an annual basis.

Details of Local Authority environmental enforcement are available from the series of Local Authority Environmental Performance Assessment reports compiled by the EPA. These reports can be accessed at:

Further questions in this regard may be addressed directly to the EPA or to individual Local Authorities.

Prosecutions under the Solid Fuel Regulations are brought in accordance with the Air Pollution Act, 1987 which provides for fines of up to €5,000 on summary conviction. It should be noted, however, that the Solid Fuel Regulations do not prescribe any specific fine for any particular offence, and that the imposition and extent of any fine would be a matter for the Courts to determine.