‘They will head to the North!’

A Cavan Town-based coal merchant has hit out at the government’s decision to impose a ban on smoky coal in the county town from September 2020. The ban will apply to all towns with a population of 10,000 or more.

Tommy Sheehan from North Pole Fuel Supplies was fulfilling orders at his busiest time of the year when the Celt called to see him last Friday. He revealed that there is a difference of between €5.50 and €7.50 in the price of a bag of smokeless coal versus smoky coal. He revealed that the majority of his orders are for the cheaper coal.
“Smoky coal starts at €13.50 and runs up to €17.50 for 40 kgs and today we are after selling 300 bags of cheap coal and it is now just 4pm,” he said.
The smokeless coals retails for between €19 and €25 a bag, with an increase in carbon tax set to hit in the new year.
“I don’t know why they [the government] are putting a carbon tax on smokeless coal,” said Mr Sheehan who is one of the few coalmen left in this North East Region and has four lorries on the road.
“They are ripping the people off and they are getting away with it. This is another tax they are bringing in – it is like the coffee cup. I would not mind if the Government said they were going to ring fence these taxes for something,” lambasted the businessman.
He was not the only one irrate at the ban.
Ann Farrelly from Keadue Lane in Cavan buys two 40kg bags of coal from North Pole Fuel Supplies every week at a cost of €13.50 per bag. She contends that she will be unable to afford to buy smokeless coal at €19 or more. “I’m on disability and every penny is accounted for already. We got a rise of €5, and the next thing the coal went up by €1.50 with the carbon levy.
“They now want to make us buy smokeless coal at a higher price – they want to screw us more – we can’t afford it,” Ann said of the ban.
The Celt had accompanied Michael Walsh to Ann’s house to deliver her coal. While she was concerned at the impending ban, there was some good news for Ann.
Her daughter Tina and husband Gerard McCaul in Crosskeys had paid for five additional bags of coal as part of Ann’s gift for the festive season. With a hearty laugh, Ann said: “I’m delighted – this is a wonderful surprise!”
 Mr Sheehan is concerned that the ban may put him out of business as customers seek cheaper fuel north of the border perhaps.
He said a great problem is in tackling the levels of coal being smuggled across the border.
“They are not stopping the boys selling coal from across the border coming in here. Some are selling coal in unmarked bags and the sulphur and the carbon in it is fierce high – it exceeds the permitted limit here,” explained the coal merchant.
Mr Sheehan further revealed that he had recently been visited by two inspectors from the Department of the Environment who analysed some of his coal samples to check for compliance with existing laws.
 “I asked those two ladies, why are you not sampling the northern trucks that are selling coal around Cavan. They said they have no right to stop them,” he said.
Mr Sheehan also accused such sellers of avoiding paying VAT or carbon taxes on their fuel sales here.
Querying how the ban will be enforced, Mr Sheehan said: “If I can’t sell the cheaper coal, then they will head to the North to get it!”