A former mayor of Ennis is refuting claims that the burning of smoky coal is the cause of increased air pollution.
A former mayor of Ennis is refuting claims that the burning of smoky coal is the cause of increased air pollution.
The comments from coal merchant Frankie Neylon come as the EPA is highlighting poor air quality in the town in recent days.
The Environmental Protection Agency found that pariculate matter concentrations in Ennis were above daily limits for three days last week.
And while the situation has since improved, concern is expressed that the flouting of European laws on the burning of so-called smoky coal is leading to poor air quality in the town.
Air pollution costs Ireland 58 million euro a year in days lost at work, and causes 1200 premature deaths per year.
The Green Party's Environment Spokesman Micheál Callaghan insists the governement needs to clamp down on the illegal burning of fuel.
However, a former mayor of Ennis is rejecting claims that smoky coal is the main problem.
Frankie Neylon, who is himself a coal merchant, believes the EPA needs to look elsewhere for the causes of poor air quality.
