The Government has announced a rise in fuel allowances to help social welfare recipients in four areas where bituminous fuels are banned to buy smokeless alternatives.
The ban on bituminous coal comes into effect on October 1st in Sligo, Kilkenny, Bray and Tralee.
The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, said the extension of the smoke free ban to is a move to a cleaner environment and a healthier environment.
At present 257,500 people receive a fuel allowance of €9.00 per week.
An additional Smokeless Fuel Allowance of €3.90 per week is payable to 115,000 people living in certain areas where the sale of bituminous fuel is banned, namely Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Dundalk, Limerick, Wexford, Galway City, Waterford City, Celbridge, Naas and Leixlip.
The total cost of providing a fuel subsidy will now rise to €82 million a year.
