Details of the new solid fuel standards have been revealed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

The new standards for all domestic solids fuels will be introduced across the state within a year and, from that point on, the most polluting of fuels will no longer be available on the Irish market.

A consultation process took place earlier this year which sought views on how to regulate solid fuels that contribute to air pollution.

The department received more than 3,500 responses to a technical consultation, survey and questionnaire.

Having considered the submissions made by the public, health experts, advocacy groups, academia and industry, a framework for legislation has been developed and drafting of the regulations is underway, the department said.

From 2022, the following new standards for solid fuels will apply in Ireland:

These regulations will be finalised in the coming months and will be in place for the 2022 heating season.

They are being announced now to allow those servicing the domestic solid fuel market to plan accordingly and to continue to invest in less polluting alternatives, the department noted.

Today's (Tuesday, September 7) announcement coincides with International Day of Clean Air for blue skies.

This event is held in a bid to raise awareness and facilitate actions to improve air quality. 

According to the UN Environment Programme, air pollution is "the largest environmental risk to global public health".

"Polluted air particularly impacts children, women and the elderly, with increased links to diseases such as dementia, diabetes, Covid-19, cardiovascular and neurological diseases."

Each year, some 1,300 people die in Ireland due to air pollution from solid fuel burning.

"This demonstrates the extent to which the choices we make when heating our homes can impact on our own health and the communities in which we live," the Department of the Environment added.

Moreover, a public consultation on the forthcoming Clean Air Strategy will open in the near future.