Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

As part of a project air quality in Ireland I am involved with, I have become aware that the Dept. of the Environment , Climate and Communications has in October or November of 2024 written to certain so retailers as to the results of sulphur testing carried out under the above legislation in various parts of Ireland. Having seen one of these communications it stated the following- “As part of the implementation and enforcement of the new solid fuel regulations the Dept. of the Environment, Climate and Communications has organised a national sulphur testing programme. Through the programme 150 samples of coal based products were taken from retailers across the country during the summer of 2024 and were tested for compliance with the sulphur limits as set out in the solid fuel regulations. These accredited tests have raised significant concerns around compliance with the sulphur requirements of the regulations which are stated in Regulation 5(4)a as: (4) Coal products and manufactured solid fuels , including manufactured part biomass products must have a sulphur content- (a) less than 2% by weight on a dry ash-free basis” These communications were signed by Dr. Irene Cadogan, Assistant Principal Officer, Air Quality Unit. I wish to submit a Freedom of Information request to see the results of these 150 tests detailing in all cases, the following information contained in the said communications- 1/Product Name 2/Sampling Result 3/Producer Name