Green Party leader Eamon Ryan wants to ban the sale and distribution of turf under new solid fuel regulations.
Minister Ryan has said there will be no ban on its cutting or burning but there will be a regulatory provision to prohibit the sale of sod peat after September this year.
Environmentalists have argued that the commercial harvesting of turf has a major impact on air pollution.
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The decision has been branded “backwards” by one TD.
Minister Ryan outlined the move in response to Fine Gael and Kerry TD Brendan Griffin.
He said: “They [the new regulations] are required, as each year, some 1,300 people die prematurely in Ireland due to air pollution from solid fuel burning.
“Research undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency also demonstrates that the contribution of peat to air pollution levels is significant.
“Turf cutting by citizens for use in their own homes is a traditional activity across many peatlands, and while measures are required to reduce the emissions associated with burning peat, these traditions will be respected.
“Therefore, to accommodate those with rights to harvest sod peat, no ban on its cutting or burning will be introduced, but a regulatory provision will be made to prohibit the placing on the market, sale or distribution of sod peat.
“As such, persons who have turbary rights will continue to be permitted to extract peat to heat their own dwelling, but will not be permitted to place it on the market for sale or distribution to others.”
Reacting to the news, Independent TD Verona Murphy said there are many people who will have no other affordable way to heat their homes other than to use turf.
She said: “We have people who are choosing to heat or eat.
“A deep retrofit costs €50,000, it’s out of reach..it’s for people who are on high incomes who will be assisted with a grant by the Government.
“So what you have here is people in fuel poverty expected to pay for the deep retrofit of the rich.
“These policies are backwards,” she told Newstalk.
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