Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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82. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concern of businesses trading in household energy products due to smoky coal products being imported illegally into the State; the resources that he is providing to local authorities to counteract such illegal trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41390/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 529 of 2022), which took effect from 31 October 2022, introduced minimum quality standards that apply to all solid fuels distributed throughout the State. This is to ensure that the most polluting fuels can no longer be made available on the Irish market and to assist the public in transitioning to less polluting alternatives.

The primary focus of these regulations is on improving air quality and improving people’s health, by restricting the retail, online and commercial sale of smoky fuels, including smoky coal, turf and wet wood.

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.

I and officials from my Department have been engaging with key stakeholders from the retail sector on this matter and continue to do so. While they have raised concerns, inspections carried out across the country by Local Authorities have not identified significant levels of non-approved fuel for sale in commercial settings. The sector have also noted concerns regarding non-tax compliant fuels and my officials are working with Revenue on this matter as they are the responsible enforcement body.

My Department is working with the Local Government Management Agency to develop a business case for an enhanced enforcement structure to support the provision of improved co-ordination, expertise and advice to underpin consistent implementation of all air quality legislation across the country. I have made funding of up to €3m available to support this enforcement structure. This process has been delayed but we hope to have progress in the coming months.

In the interim, officials from my Department have been engaging directly with enforcement personnel on the ground, developing guidance and training, holding workshop and supporting the sharing of best practice in relation to a range of air quality legislative obligations that are under the remit of the Local Authorities.

I have also made over €1m available to Local Authorities to directly support action in this area since the introduction of the new regulations. The Air Pollution Act is also being amended to ensure enhanced enforcement tools are available to the Local Authorities to take action on non-approved fuels.