State promises home fires will be kept burning

Families who cut turf for their own fires have no need for concern over the upcoming public consultation around air quality and a proposal to regulate fuels.

That’s what Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, confirmed to Galway/Roscommon TD Michael Fitzmaurice, when they met to discuss concerns around domestic turf cutting this week.

Deputy Fitzmaurice, whose campaigning for turf cutters’ rights has been at the core of his political battles from the start of his public life, sought the meeting on foot of media reports which indicated that the cutting and burning of turf domestically would be phased out as part of the upcoming public consultation around air quality and a proposal to regulate fuels.

“After seeing some of these reports in the media and receiving many calls from concerned constituents on the matter, I sought a meeting to clarify the situation – and the Minister, along with his officials, confirmed that domestic turf cutters who cut turf to burn in their own fires in their own homes have no need to be concerned,” he said.

“They highlighted that the primary concern is around air quality levels and that the public consultation is just a step towards addressing the matter.

“As part of the consultation, there is a proposal to regulate the sale of fuels – such as briquettes, coal and timber – when it comes to their moisture levels or smoke content levels,” he added.

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