Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

176. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to furnish a copy of the investigation report by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council into the compliance of coal being sold by retailers in the Dublin region with the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022. [11382/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

177. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of retail outlets nationally where sampling of solid fuel products took place since the enactment of the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 and the level of compliance recorded. [11383/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

178. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of enforcement proceedings and-or prosecutions commenced for non-compliance with solid fuel regulations since the enactment of the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11384/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

179. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how the State will strengthen enforcement, increase solid fuel supplier accountability, and tackle potentially fraudulent activity within the solid fuel supply chain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11385/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 179, inclusive, together.

The Report mentioned was prepared by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and requests for copies of the Report should be directed to that Council.

Local authorities are and will continue to be responsible for the enforcement of the solid fuel regulations, including identifying unauthorised fuels placed on the market and taking measures to counteract any illegal trade.

The EPA and local authorities are environmental regulators. My Department does not enforce air pollution legislation, rather it sets the policy and legislative framework. My Department does not hold statistics on the total number of solid fuel samples taken, level of compliance nor prosecutions taken by local authorities under the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022.

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: Compliance & Enforcement: Public Authorities Publications | Environmental Protection Agency.

In 2024, in addition to local authority testing, my Department funded a national solid fuel sulphur level testing campaign where 150 samples were taken across the country and tested in an accredited laboratory. From that testing, 88% of samples were found to be over the sulphur limit of 2% with 17% of samples above 3.5% sulphur content. The results of this campaign were shared with the producers, retailers, EPA and local authority sector.

In terms of strengthening legislation to support compliance with the Regulations, my Department recently finalised amendments to the Air Pollution Act to ensure enhanced enforcement tools are available to the local authorities and to further strengthen requirements regarding the labelling, registration and advertising of solid fuels.

In 2024 grant funding of €500,000 was made available to support local authorities through a pilot ‘solid fuels enforcement’ scheme. Furthermore, another new pilot project funded by my Department will shortly commence to support local authorities with the highest levels of air pollution to assist these local authorities to put in place roadmaps to improve air quality in those areas.