Skip to main content

Bituminous Coal Ban

A ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal applies in sixteen towns and cities around the country (Dublin from 1990, Cork 1995, Arklow, Drogheda, Dundalk, Limerick and Wexford 1998, Celbridge, Galway, Leixlip, Naas and Waterford 2000, Bray, Kilkenny, Sligo and Tralee 2003).

The origins of the coal bans date from the start of the 1990s when the main air quality problem facing Ireland was the occurrence of "winter smog" (smoke and sulphur dioxide emissions) resulting from widespread use of bituminous coal in major urban areas, notably Dublin, leading to serious health effects for people.

Regulations were made in 1990 to ban the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal in the Dublin area. Smoke and sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels showed considerable improvement once the ban was introduced and it was decided in subsequent years to extend the ban further in order to achieve and preserve good air quality in the selected areas.

In 2002, the Department and the Solid Fuel Trade Group Ltd. signed a negotiated agreement to reduce the sulphur content of all bituminous coal and petcoke and also provided for the extension of the ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of solid fuels. The agreement was the culmination of a consultation process commenced in 2001 on foot of the Public Consultation Paper "Potential National Ban on Bituminous Coal and Petcoke".

In April 2006, the Department and the Solid Fuel Trade Group Ltd. signed a second negotiated agreement concerning further reductions in the sulphur emissions of bituminous coal and petcoke and the maintenance of existing limitations through smokeless zones on the marketing, sale and distribution of solid fuels. 
 
The latest agreement between the Department and the Solid Fuel Trade Group Ltd which was signed on 8 October, 2008 and runs until July 2011, locks in place the significant environmental gains achieved by the previous agreements through maintaining ambitious limits on sulphur levels in bituminous coal and petcoke.

 

Further information

Contact:

Environmental Radiation Policy and Air Quality Section,
Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government,
Newtown Rd,
Wexford.

Telephone: 00 353 (0) 911 7358
Fax:            00 353 (0) 911 7603

E-mail: airquality@environ.ie  

 

 

  • Print this page

Publications & Documents

News and Speeches

Legislation