Environment

Councils to be given new powers to crack down on sale of smoky fuels

The new law will give local authorities greater powers to tackle any ongoing supply of unauthorised, smoky solid fuels being illegally placed on the Irish market

The first of two phases of the government’s new smoky fuel ban came into effect at the end of October 2022. Photo: Shutterstock

A new air pollution law is to be drafted to give local authorities greater powers to prevent the illegal sale of smoky fuels, under plans approved by government today.

The news comes after the Business Post revealed that new smoky fuel regulations were being flouted in certain towns around Ireland.

Eamon Ryan, the minister for environment, got cabinet approval for priority drafting of an Air Pollution Act (Amendment) Bill to strengthen the ability of local ...