Watchdog warns on the burning of solid fuel in homes

With a nationwide ban on smoky coal not yet in place, the country’s environmental watchdog has warned that the burning of solid fuel is of growing concern.

According to the EPA, the country needs to reduce its coal burning during the winter months. The former minister for the environment, Alan Kelly, said in September he was setting in train a blanket ban on bituminous coal. The Department of Climate Action and Environment says it is consulting with the European Commission, relevant departments, the public, and residential fuel industry about the ban and is also developing a clean air strategy. It said it is “committed to the earliest possible introduction of a national ban”.

The EPA has warned “levels of particulate matter in our air is of growing concern, especially during the winter months when people’s fuel choices can directly impact on air quality and on our health. Also in urban areas we face potential exceedances of nitrogen-dioxide limit values unless we move to clean transport choices”.