The Clare branch President of St Vincent DePaul is calling for additional support to be provided for low income households and renters to help them move away from using solid fuels.
It follows confirmation from the Green Party leader that the move to ban the sale of turf would no longer apply to rural communities of less than 500 people.
It seems the Energy Minister is rowing back on proposed new laws to ban the sale and supply of turf from September 1st.
Eamon Ryan appears to have confirmed that that only large distributors of turf will be targeted under the regulations and that the ban won’t apply to rural communities of fewer than 500 people.
There’d been clashes between the coalition parties over the issue but Minister Ryan says it won’t be a case of inspectors going into cottages and ‘sifting through the grate’.
In an interview with the Irish Independent, he says there’s been major misinformation and disinformation that the state would ‘arrest your granny for burning the wrong fuel’.
The Agriculture Minister, meanwhile, says a ‘common sense’ approach is needed to the sale and distribution of turf.
Charlie McConalogue says a balance needs to be found between environmental progress and traditional practices.
The Clare branch President of St Vincent De Paul says anything that can be done to assist people during this difficult time is welcome.
15% of homes in this county rely on solid fuels and Denis Carty believes measures are needed to help support low income workers and those in rental accommodation to move to more environmentally friendly options.
The proposed legislation won’t come into effect for another five months and so far it seems we’re no closer to agreement on the burning topic.
