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By Sean Moriarty

Environment Minister Richard Bruton is expected to announce an extension of the ban on burning smoky coal in a number of towns including Killarney, but local Councillors are divided.

The Government is expected to announce that towns with a population of between 10,000 and 15,000 will be included in extension of the current Low Smoke Zones.

Cllr Donal Grady believes that this is another covert tax being imposed on people, especially those who can’t afford to buy the more expensive smokeless coals or convert their houses to take a gas supply.

“I burn turf myself and will continue to do so unless someone tells me I am going to jail for doing it,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “This Government seems to spring one new tax after another on to the people every week. Look at the aircrafts flying overhead – I am not saying people should not fly – but we need to tackle this all together as one.”

[caption id="attachment_26847" align="alignleft" width="200"] Councillor Michael Gleeson. Photo: Domnick Walsh[/caption]

Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Michael Gleeson, says he has been burning smokeless coal for some years and that he attempted to bring a motion before the council back in 2015 but was overruled as Council colleagues felt that the extra cost was too much of a burden for some people.

However, he cited health improvements in other areas, particularly Ballyfermot in Dublin, where smokey fuel was banned some 30 years ago.

“I asked the Council in 2015 for Killarney to be included in a smoke free zone but some of my colleagues demurred over a cost of €2 more a bag,” Mayor Gleeson told the Killarney Advertiser. “The Government should subside the extra cost to those most vulnerable. Killarney is unique as it sits very low, almost in a bowl, and when you get a climate condition called inversion the smoke gets trapped. There has been a marked reduction of bronchial and heart diseases in Ballyfermot for example and the health of the people should be above the Government.”