The Environmental Health Officers enforce Regulations in relation to the sale and distribution of coal to ensure that bituminous coal is no longer offered for sale within the city boundaries. 
 
The regulation of Dublin’s coal market came into force following the episodes of smog that blighted the City in the 1980s. The Air Pollution Act was introduced in 1987 and the Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels Regulations came into force in September 1990.

A total ban was placed on the sale of bituminous coal in the City. The legislation deemed that the Sulphur content of smokeless fuel should not exceed 1.5%. This reduced the levels of Sulphur Dioxide in the atmosphere almost overnight and the smog incidents were eliminated in the next heating season. The Sulphur content was subsequently changed to 2% in the 1998 Regulations. 
 
Since then, the ban has been extended to numerous cities nationally including Cork in 1995, and Limerick and Wexford in 1998. 
 
Environmental Health Officers continue to carry out city-wide inspections during the winter heating season to ensure compliance with these, and other subsequent fuel regulations 1998 and 2000. Inspections of fuel yards, fuel vans, garage forecourts and shops are carried out to establish the types of fuel being offered for sale around the City.

The results of these inspections are collated and reported to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government annually.
 
If you witness the sale of bituminous (e.g. Polish, Texan) coal either from a shop or delivery vehicle within the City areas, please contact Dublin City Council to report this immediately at the address below.