Fossil fuels debate

A Cork County Councillor has called for “a bit of common sense” regarding negative views on fossil fuel heating in homes.

East Cork Independent councillor William O’Leary said he firmly believes that the way he heats his own home has no impact on county Cork’s climate.

In a motion brought forward at the most recent Cork County Council meeting, Cllr O’Leary said the removal of fossil fuel heating from new builds, existing council owned homes, and future developments will cause serious problems for households.

He said the problems are both financial and in times of power outages as recently seen during weather events.

“If someone’s oil heating packs up tomorrow, are they expected to retrofit the whole house or go to the great expense of putting in a different system, be it air-to-water or whatever?” Cllr O’Leary explained.

His motion called on the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to reverse its negative policy towards fossil fuel heating for homes.

The motion received mixed responses in the chamber from various councillors who were at the meeting.

Fianna Fáil Counillor Gearóid Murphy pointing out that in the long run, fossil fuels will entirely run out.

The Mallow councillor said: “In the very long term, we’re not going to have any fossil fuel heating system in any house anywhere in the world.”

Cllr Murphy continued: “Take the environmental arguments out of it completely. We’re going to run out of the stuff eventually.

“And long before, by the way, we run out of fossil fuel – of coal, of oil, of what have you – the cost of it is going to become absolutely astronomical and prohibitive as the supply slowly drains and diminishes until it’s gone,” added Cllr Murphy.

Cllr Frank O’Flynn said he fully supported Cllr O’Leary’s motion and that he fully backs the use of new, modern stoves with a low carbon footprint which burn fuel such as wood to heat homes.

He explained: “I use one. I find it very efficient. I have a low carbon footprint.

“I’m using dry timber from fallen trees that are down four or five years. I haven’t used coal for the last 20 years.”

Cllr O’Flynn continued: “If the ESB goes off, you have heat and you have light. I personally feel the option should be there.”