Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The EPA provides local air quality data through airquality.ie, on the 50 monitoring stations that are out there. I do not have the details here, but I recall that there is a process of citizen science supporting that with regard to air quality. The monitoring of environmental data is improving with remote sensory devices and mobile networks. Actually, I have that number wrong, it is 90 monitoring stations in total. These can be complemented by other measuring mechanisms.

On the issue of public buildings, the Deputy is absolutely right. We have done everything. I recall a hearing, when I was in opposition a few years ago, and asking the relevant officials in the OPW what were we doing in that regard. I believe the response was that we had done a lot on the behavioural side such as notices on boards and everyone being told to manage how we monitor. They effectively said that it had got to the point where we have to invest in the fabric of buildings. It is not a small investment. It is at a time when we have significant other investment requirements in housing, in transport, in health and in education. I could go on. Investing in our public building stock has a benefit in that we save on the current fuel bill, we get better health outcomes and we must meet this climate target. We have to stop burning fossil fuels within three decades. It will take three decades to do our public buildings and we should do them as early as we can to make the saving and to show the lead. By the end of that period we will be net-zero and we will not be burning fossil fuels. We know we have to do it and should get on with it.