Cabinet Agrees To Restrictions On The Retail Sale Of Turf, Smoky Coal And Wet Wood

Bog owners will still be allowed to cut, gift or sell turf.

The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications has announced that the sale of turf, smoky coal and wet wood will be restricted from the 31st October 2022.

It said that these fuels are “proven to be a major contributor to air pollution in Ireland."

People with turbary rights and all other customary practices in respect of turf will be unaffected by these draft regulations.

They will continue to be able to cut turf for their own use and will retain the ability to sell turf and gift it.

However, no sale of turf may take place by way of the internet, social media, local press or from any shop or retail premises.

Under the draft regulations published on Thursday, the following new health standards for solid fuels will apply from October 31, this year:

• Coal products and manufactured solid fuels must have a smoke emission rate of less than 10g/hour.
• Manufactured part biomass products must have a smoke emission rate of less than 5g/hr.
• Coal products and manufactured solid fuels, including manufactured part biomass products, must have a sulphur content of less than 2% by weight on a dry ash-free basis.
• Subject to a market assessment, this limit will be reduced to 1% with effect from September 1, 2025.
• 100% biomass products, wood products and wood logs, supplies in units under 2m³, will be required to have a moisture content of 25% or less, which will move to 20% from September 1, 2025.
• Wood logs sold in larger volumes will be required to come with instructions for the purchaser on how to dry this wood.

Fine Gael Kildare South TD and Minister of State Martin Heydon commented: “I do recognise the effect of poor air quality on people’s health and wellbeing, and I welcome the role these regulations will play in helping to improve air quality and public health.

Minister Heydon believes a "sensible solution has been found on the issue of turf" and recognised that the tradition of cutting turf is important to many communities in Kildare.

“However, we must make sure we are not stopping customs that date back centuries when people do not have other alternatives.

“The revised regulations allow those with turbary rights and all ‘customary rights’ to cut, burn, share and sell turf, as long as it’s not sold in a retail setting, public place, through media or online.

"There is no ban on burning turf by anyone in the country, " he insisted.

"The previously mooted restriction on use only in towns or villages of population of 500 has also been removed.

“We’re confident this solution will protect and extend the current smoky coal ban, while allowing for traditional practices to continue," he added.