Public Consultation on the development of new Solid Fuel Regulations for Ireland

The Government has committed to a nationwide ban on smoky coal by the end of its term, but we also need to regulate other solid fuels to improve air quality for everyone. The choices we make when heating our homes has a big impact on our health and the health of our neighbours.

We are developing new solid fuel regulations for Ireland and are holding this public consultation to gather your views to inform them.

This consultation has two strands, public engagement and a technical consultation.

Technical Consultation

We are looking for technical information that will support the development of legislation to regulate the broader use of solid fuels in the residential sector.

If you would like to make a technical submission, you can complete this online questionnaire, or send a detailed submission by email to SolidFuels@decc.gov.ie or by post to:

Public Consultation on Solid Fuels

Air Quality Division

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Newtown Road

Wexford

Y35 AP90

The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm Friday 2 April 2021

In addition to the technical consultation, we also want to hear from the public about your fuel choices and your needs when heating your home.

This shorter survey can be completed anonymously online. You do not need any technical knowledge to complete the survey.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosts information about Ireland's air quality on its website. The Air Quality Index for Health and real-time air quality data is also available online.

As part of the consultation process, the Department held two Virtual Town Hall meetings (on March 5 and March 16) as part of wider public engagement about solid fuels, air quality and health.

Speakers were:

• Dr Irene Cadogan, Air Quality Unit, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
• Dr Jurgita Ovadnevaite, Centre for Climate & Air Pollution Studies, Ryan Institute, NUI Galway.
• Dr Colm Byrne, Consultant Geriatrician, Mater Misercordiae University Hospital.

Panelists were:

• Pat Kenny, National Ambient Air Quality Unit, Environmental Protection Agency.
• Susan Andrews, Home Energy Grants, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

The presentations given at the meetings are available to view here and for download below:

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make an official submission via questionnaire, email or post in relation to this technical consultation. All submissions and feedback will be considered before the final version of the Solid Fuel Regulations is published.

Please note that responses to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI), Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2014 (AIE) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Please also note that the Department intends to publish the contents of all submissions received to the technical consultation on its website. The Department will redact personal data prior to publication. In responding to this consultation, parties should clearly indicate where their responses contain personal information, commercially sensitive information or confidential information which they would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published.

We would like to draw your attention to the Department's Data Privacy Notice which is available on our website and explains how and when we collect personal data, why we do so and how we treat this information. It also explains your rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how you can exercise those rights.