Cork County Council has announced that from 01 September it will enforce the ban on the burning, sale and marketing of smoky coal in Cobh, Mallow and Midleton.

The decision was made following the announcement by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Eamon Ryan T.D. to give legal effect to the extension of the smoky coal ban to all towns with populations over 10,000 people.

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While the designation of Cobh, Mallow and Midleton was first announced by the Department in December 2019, it is acknowledged that the exact areas to be included in these new Low Smoke Zones (LSZs) have only recently been decided and publiished.

The powers available to Cork County Council in enforcing the smoky coal ban are extensive, including the power to inspect premises and vehicles, to issue fixed payment notices and to initiate prosecutions under the Air Pollution Acts for breaches of the regulations. Fixed penalty notices can range between €250 and €1,000.