Legislative and policy framework
Low Smoke Zone: Cork City (green); Great Island, Carrigtohill and Midleton (blue) ( Link to DCCAE Map )
Figure 2.1
Where householders continue to rely on solid fuel, there is now a range of innovative low smoke solid fuel products available on the market, including low smoke coal. Low smoke solid fuel is cleaner as well as more carbon and heat efficient. It can deliver climate benefits as well as improved air quality. Air quality monitoring by the EPA has shown lower levels of particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 ) in Low Smoke Zones than in towns where the ban does not apply. On 1st September 2020 the smoky coal ban was extended to all towns with populations over 10,000 people. At this present time, the government will not be proceeding with a nationwide ban on smoky coal, on the basis that such a ban carries a serious risk of illegality, unless peat, turf and wet wood were also included. Since September 2020, the prohibition on the burning, sale and marketing of smoky coal was extended to the towns listed below:
County
Town
Cavan Cork Kerry
Cavan Town
Cobh, Carrigtohill, Midleton and Mallow
Killarney
Longford
Longford Town Castlebar, Ballina
Mayo Meath Offaly
Ashbourne, Laytown-Bettystown
Tullamore Tramore
Waterford Wexford
Enniscorthy
Recent air quality monitoring in three of these towns (Cobh, Enniscorthy and Longford) has shown that although air quality has met EU requirements, the results have been in exceedance of the stricter WHO air quality standard limits. On this basis, it has been decided that all built-up areas in the country should benefit from a ban. Work is also underway to strengthen enforcement of the current smoky coal ban. Potential options which are being considered include: » The development of a regional approach to air quality and noise enforcement, in line with other areas of environmental enforcement such as waste, which has proven to be very successful » A multi-agency approach to enforcement would have greater impact on issues including the sale of high-sulphur content fuel imported from the UK. The Irish Government is currently actively engaging with Local Authorities and the Revenue Commissioners in this context. The government has also announced that it will invest €5m to improve the existing network of air quality monitoring stations in the next five years. This €5m investment is designed to: » Develop a greatly expanded national monitoring network » Enhance the provision of real-time, localised air quality information to local authorities and to the public » Assist Local Authorities in terms of enforcement within their areas, as well as providing a more accurate nationwide air quality picture for policy makers.
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