'Smoky coal' ban would benefit asthma sufferers

The Asthma Society of Ireland has said that a nationwide ban on 'smoky coal' would be a major boost for the country's 470,000 asthma sufferers.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan last month indicated that he is likely to introduce a complete ban on high-sulphur solid fuel, within the next three years, but first a study will investigate air quality as a result of coal use across all 26 counties.