Ennis people all fired up over smoky coal

SMOKELESS coal is “absolutely useless” as it produces a lot of ashes but no heat, a Clare County Councillor claimed last week, as members complained about the ban on the sale of smoky coal in Ennis and surrounding areas.
“A lot of people have come to me complaining there is an uneven playing field and they feel they are being penalised in urban areas,” said Councillor Paul Murphy. He also said there is a need to “even up” things.
Councillor Sonny Scanlon said he had received a number of complaints. “I have a lot of friends in Ennis and they have said the smokeless coal is absolutely useless, that it produces a lot of ashes and no heat.”
He said fuel merchants are having difficulties, as people are not happy to buy the inferior product, going for other options instead.
Green party Councillor Brian Meaney said he wished to compliment the council officials who had been involved in rolling out the ban and he hoped it would contribute to having a healthy air environment in Ennis.
In a report to the meeting, Nora Kaye, director of services with the Environment and Water Services, said while introducing the regulations brings a number of challenges, progress is being made.
“Implementation of the solid fuel regulations, which commenced on August 1, 2011, is showing positive progress. Significant work has been carried out to increase public awareness of regulations, particularly the introduction of the smoky coal ban in the greater Ennis area. On the ground, enforcement has resulted in the inspection of over 50 fuel supplying premises and operators in the greater Ennis area alone, with inspections of fuel suppliers also taking place in the parts of South-East Clare covered by the Limerick City area smoky coal ban. Patrol inspections carried out both during and outside of normal working hours are ensuring a high level of compliance by fuel suppliers with the regulations.
“Preliminary air quality results from EPA monitoring up to the end of 2011 are showing encouraging signs that the smoky coal ban in the greater Ennis area is already having a positive effect on air quality.
“The implementation of the regulations is not without difficulty, including significant challenges for fuel suppliers in dealing with the requirements of the regulations in the short timeframe since implementation at the start of August 2011. There are also challenges in encouraging the public to change over to using smokeless fuels and the extent of the smoky coal ban, which is not likely to change in the near future. It must be borne in mind that the purpose of the regulations is to improve air quality and public health and similar bans implemented elsewhere in the country have brought about such improvements. Clare County Council’s focus will be on maintaining and increasing public awareness and providing consistent and effective enforcement of the regulations.”
The report also stated the ban is the result of national legislation, which affects towns with a population above 15,000.