Cheaper fuels could lead to local closures

Motion tabled calling for Revenue to assign additional resources to better police the smokey coal regulations

Local fuel traders are facing closure due to the smoky coal ban in Cavan Town.

At their monthly meeting, councillors heard claims the ban is leading to “unfair competition” and there should be better policing of what fuels people are using.

Introduced in 2020 in a number of towns across the country, the ban means only smokeless fuels can be used in fires. Some of these products have higher prices than their smoky counterparts, with reports of people travelling north to purchase fuel.

At the meeting, Cllr Patricia Walsh (FF) claimed a supplier from Northern Ireland was making deliveries of smoky fuels in and around Cavan Town.

“It’s unfair competition. There was a lorry going around selling coal and briquettes door to door. This should be policed.”

Under the legislation, it is illegal for any fuel supplier to sell smoky fuel products or for a householder to burn them or face prosecution.

However, Cllr Walsh said the price of a bag of smokeless coal could be as high as an extra €7 per bag.

“I met with a trader and his business is on the line. He employs a lot of people,” she told the meeting.

Cllr John Paul Feeley (FF), who jointly tabled the motion calling for Revenue to assign additional resources to better police the regulations, said he didn’t expect the council to have to step up in this case but something has to be done.

“I don’t expect or want the county council to knock on doors to ask what people are burning. It’s very unfair to legitimate suppliers.”

He said most people agree with the “principle” of the ban but the fact there is no carbon tax on fuel in Northern Ireland means there’s a case of “unfair competition”.

The motion won cross party support at the meeting. Cllr Madeleine Argue (FG) said suppliers had met with Ministers and other officials but they “don’t seem to be getting anywhere”.

Cllrs Brendan Fay (Ind) and Seán Smith (FF) also highlighted the price difference between fuels in the north and south.

“I live on the border and there was a €5 to €7 or €8 in the difference and now we’re facing another €7,” said Cllr Fay. “They’re going to buy it. There’s no point closing our eyes.”

Cllr Smith agreed: “I passed an outlet in Northern Ireland and they were selling coal for £13 for a bag. There’s a big difference in the price here. It’s an incentive to buy.”

Director of Services for Transportation, Environment and Water Services, Paddy Connaughton, said the smoky fuel ban in Dublin had led to a 70% reduction in the number of deaths linked to the fuels since the ban was introduced in 1990.

He suggested the council write to Revenue calling for the regulation of fuel suppliers to better enable the tracking of those selling fuels here.

Mr Connaughton said a nationwide smoky fuel ban is expected to be introduced later this year but Cavan County Council has received “no additional resources from the Environment Department” and the ban is “extremely difficult to enforce”.

Councillors agreed to write to Revenue and the Minister for the Environment on the issue.