A proposed ban on the commercial sale of turf will exempt gifting or sharing between families or neighbours.

Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan has also indicated there will be an allowance within the draft regulations for people to continue to burn in rural areas, where there is not a risk of pollution.

This would apply in areas with a population of under 500 people.

However, one prominent Fianna Fáil backbencher has said the revised proposals are not a solution ahead of a meeting with the Minister tomorrow.

Laois-Offaly TD Barry Cowen has circulated a response to the Minister which has called for the retention of options to buy turf from local commercial cutters.

He said the updated proposals are not sufficient and fail to protect many vulnerable households.

Mr Cowen said the proposals "do little to assure many vulnerable households, who can't unfortunately move at the pace of transition we'd like, of our understanding of their predicament".

However, Mr Cowen added that banning sales of turf in recognised retail settings is an option and will compliment "the ongoing decline and eventual dying out" practice of turf cutting.

Mr Ryan will meet Government backbenchers tomorrow to discuss the ban ahead of a Dáil debate on a Sinn Féin motion calling for the prohibition to be abandoned.

The plan has sparked discontent within the coalition with Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar insisting the ban had not been agreed and would be paused.

The three party leaders will also discuss the proposal at their weekly meeting this evening.

The Department of the Environment is working on draft regulations on a clean air strategy including the previously announced nationwide ban on smoky coal.

However, it emerged that the regulations would also include a ban in September on the sale of commercial turf.

It is understood that enforcement of the ban would be done on the basis of air quality measurements.

Sinn Féin has said that now is not the time to introduce prohibitions on the sale of turf when the cost of living is so high.

Social protection spokesperson for Sinn Féin, Claire Kerrane, said: "The timing and introduction of this turf ban could not be worse, considering the extent of the cost of living, fuel and energy crisis.

"Some Government TDs have created confusion on this issue by giving mixed messages on whether this ban will go ahead as planned in September. The Government cannot talk out of both sides of its mouth on this. Rural communities need clarity and this motion will give them that clarity."