Heated Ennis coal ban debate

A CALL was made yesterday to introduce a bitumen coal ban in Ennis following pollutant levels from coal exceeding limits on 16 different times to date this year.

A member of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Advisory Committee Cllr Brian Meaney said the Government must introduce the bitumen coal ban in Ennis.

Mr Meaney said: “I’m aware the level of pollutants in the air from bitumen coal is a concern for the EPA.”

Their figures show the daily limits from pollutants from coal were exceeded by more than 100% this year. It occurred 16 times.

The Green Party Ennis town councillor noted: “The people of Ennis are entitled to good quality air the same as residents from other urban areas”. A study from the EPA found levels of particulates from solid fuel “were higher than at other stations in Ireland”.

Coal merchant Frankie Neylon, an independent Ennis councillor, said he agreed with the introduction of smokeless fuel.

“I blame the Green Party for the pollution levels with the introduction of the carbon levy.” He claimed the levy led to cheap coal being brought in who were “selling to households from the backs of lorries and vans. Mr Neylon reported that his business has declined by 60% in the past two years as a result of the cheap coal being sold by these new mobile operators.

“We had our coldest winter this year since 1963, but I am 30 years in the business and I had my worst winter ever, business-wise.”

An EPA spokeswoman said the issue of the coal ban is a matter for the Department of the Environment.