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Cullen Extends Coal Ban To Four New Urban Areas

Cullen Extends Coal Ban To Four New Urban Areas

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25/03/2003

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Cullen Extends Coal Ban To Four New Urban Areas

The Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D., today (25 March) signed regulations extending the ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal to an additional four urban areas. The new urban areas are Bray, Kilkenny, Sligo and Tralee. The ban will come into effect on 1st October, 2003.

The Department of the Environment and Local Government will issue a public information leaflet to all households and businesses in the new ban areas later this year explaining the effects and implications of the ban in the new areas.

The regulations arise from the negotiated agreement signed by the Department and the Solid Fuel Trade Group (representing the principal importers and distributors of solid fuel) in June 2002 following consultations on a potential national ban on bituminous coal and petcoke in 2001/2002. As well as new ban areas, the agreement also provides for a reduction in the sulphur content of bituminous coal and petcoke nationally. These measures will reduce ambient smoke levels and reduce sulphur dioxide emissions by some 6,500 tonnes per annum.

“I am pleased to sign these regulations into law” the Minister said. “Anyone who visited Dublin during the winter months of the late 1980’s will remember the severe winter smog encountered there. The benefits of the ban on bituminous coal are visible for everybody to see. Independent medical research has shown that the ban has resulted in some 116 fewer respiratory deaths and 243 fewer cardiovascular deaths per year in Dublin alone. These regulations will ensure that the people of Bray, Kilkenny, Sligo and Tralee will also enjoy cleaner air”.

The ban on the sale of bituminous coal already operates in twelve urban areas; Dublin (since 1990), Cork (1995), Arklow, Drogheda, Dundalk, Limerick, Wexford (1998) and Celbridge, Galway, Leixlip, Naas and Waterford (2000). All areas have shown considerable improvement in reduced smoke levels subsequently. The agreement with the Solid Fuel Trade Group also provides for increased market penetration of smokeless fuel products in four more urban areas (Athlone, Carlow, Clonmel and Ennis) up to 75% by 1 October, 2004.

The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs will make an additional payment during the winter heating season to qualifying social welfare recipients to assist lower income households with any increased cost of smokeless solid fuel. The cost of this Supplementary Fuel Allowance payment will be €860k. per full year in the new areas and €13.6m. nationally.

“As well as the benefits of cleaner air in new ban areas the agreement with the Solid Fuel Trade Group will also play a part in achieving Ireland’s national emission ceiling for sulphur dioxide emissions as required under EU and international law. The agreement is estimated to reduce national emissions by up to 6,500 tonnes of SO2 (Sulphur Dioxide) per year I will be publishing a discussion paper ahead of bringing a National Emissions Reduction Strategy to Government later this year” the Minister added.