Overdue roll-out of smoky fuel ban ‘muddled and confusing’

THE overdue roll-out of the smoky fuel ban in Ennis “has been muddled and confusing”, a local councillor has claimed.

Under the ban, introduced in the Clare town earlier this month, it is illegal to market, sell or distribute bituminous, or “smoky” coal.

The regulations will be enforced by Clare County Council and those found to be in breach can face fines of up to €500,000 on indictment conviction and €5,000 on summary conviction.

On-the-spot fines of €1,000 will be introduced for the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous fuel in a restricted area, or of coal exceeding the maximum sulphur content in any area.

Green Party councillor Brian Meaney said: “No information was provided to the retailers and coal merchants showing the area where the smoky fuel ban applied. No information was provided on what obligations are required from the users and sellers of coal to ensure the ban is effective.”

He said: “The fault for this lies with the half-hearted approach of the Department of the Environment.

“No resources have been provided to Clare County Council, only another responsibility foisted on the local authority at a time when local authority funding is being cut,” Mr Meaney added.

Along with Ennis, the smoky fuel ban has been extended to Athlone, Carlow and Clonmel.

The new regulations put on a statutory footing a voluntary agreement that existed between the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government and the industry representatives’, Solid Fuel Trade Group.

As a result of the new regulations, there is now a requirement for coal baggers and suppliers to register with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and for those placing on the market, selling or distributing bituminous coal to hold records to demonstrate that their product complies with the new sulphur standard.