Around one in four people living outside of Dublin still use smoky coal, despite the fact that the burning of this type of coal can lead to harmful particles in the air, which adversely affects the health of people with asthma, the Asthma Society of Ireland (ASI) has warned.

Some 470,000 people in Ireland have asthma, including one in every five children. While smoky coal is known to have a detrimental effect on those affected, many people are unaware that its use is still allowed outside of large towns and cities.

Smoky coal was first banned in Dublin in 1990 and following the success of this, the ban was rolled out to other large towns and cities over the following years.

Since May 1, 2013, a number of locations were added to the ban, including Letterkenny, Mullingar, Navan and Newbridge. However, the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, has just announced a joint north-south study on the quality of air throughout the island of Ireland. This study will assess levels of air pollution from residential solid fuel, particularly smoky coal.

Announcing the study, Minister Hogan said that he envisages a total ban on the use of smoky coal within the next three years.

Recent research commissioned by the ASI found that at least eight in 10 people would support such a ban in order to improve air quality. However, more than one in three people were unaware that burning smoky coal can produce particles in the air that are harmful to people with asthma.

Furthermore, while almost one in three people were not aware that burning smoky coal is still allowed outside of major towns and cities, this figure rose to almost one in two among people from Dublin.

The ASI said that it was ‘delighted' that Minister Hogan is planning to introduce a total ban on smoky coal in the next few years.

"People in Ireland have as much right to breathe clean air as they do to drink clean water and eat safe food. Pollutants, such as the harmful particles produced by burning smoky coal, are damaging for everyone's health, but especially people with respiratory conditions like asthma. Breathing in polluted air worsens asthma symptoms, increases the risk of having an asthma attack and limits quality of life," explained ASI CEO, Sharon Cosgrove.

She added that this announcement, which coincides with World Asthma Day (May 7), ‘is great news for asthma sufferers in Ireland, their families and everyone who values equal access to clean air for all'.

The announcement also coincides with the 40th anniversary of the ASI, which was established in 1973 to support people with asthma in Ireland.

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