Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which is close to my heart. Clean air is fundamental to our well-being and quality of life and is essential for the health of the environment on which we depend. People have no choice about the air they breathe. We have an important role in developing policies that deliver clean air, hence the high priority given to improving Ireland's air quality in the current programme for Government.

The results of the Google Project Air View Dublin study are interesting. They show that while our overall air quality is generally good, there remain a number of localised issues of concern. It is important to note that the measurements taken as part of this project provide useful insights and indicative data but are not of the frequency, quality or accuracy required under EU legislation for comparison with current EU limits or World Health Organization guidelines.

Official assessment of Ireland's air quality against these limits and guidelines is conducted using data from the national ambient air quality monitoring programme, which is funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and is operated and maintained by the EPA. Monitoring air pollution is essential to help us better understand where issues are arising so that we may ensure national measures are in place to deliver air pollution reductions and look to target policy measures to those areas with specific issues. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has provided funding for a significant upgrade to the monitoring network in recent years. The number of monitoring stations has increased from 29 in 2017 to 116 this month. That is well above the EU requirement for 30 stations. Additional stations are not planned for the national network as we are now moving to a modelling and forecasting system through the Life Emerald project. This will allow us to use information from our monitoring network to provide near real-time mapping of air pollutants throughout the country, which will fill in the gaps between monitoring stations and provide a national three-day air quality forecast.

This project will improve Ireland's ambient air quality management capability and will deliver a system that will provide better information to the public. It is essential that we use the data from our official national monitoring network to focus on implementation and enforcement of the policy measures introduced to achieve air pollution reductions. For example, Ireland recorded an exceedance of nitrogen dioxide in 2019 at the St. John's Road West monitoring station in Dublin 8 when emissions were just above the annual limit of 40 μg/m³. In response to this, the urban transport-related air pollution working group was set up. The four Dublin local authorities came together to develop an air quality management plan for the area. The urban transport-related air pollution group has acted as a valuable forum for engagement and co-operation between the key urban transport and air quality stakeholders. It has enhanced awareness among stakeholders of clean air legislation and facilitated increased co-ordination and coherence between the policies, plans and strategies developed by each of the members concerning air pollution control. Its final report was published last month.

Since 2019, there has been no official exceedance of these limits. It should be noted that up to 2021, the WHO guidelines for annual nitrogen dioxide mirrored the Clean Air for Europe limit of 40 μg/m³. However, in September 2021 the WHO issued revised guidelines with a new annual mean for nitrogen dioxide of 10 μg/m³. This is the figure the Deputy mentioned. It is important to note that this refers to an annual average. It does not follow that the levels of nitrogen dioxide must be below this figure at all times. Nevertheless, this guideline of 10 μg/m³ will be extremely difficult to achieve so long as petrol- and diesel-fuelled vehicles remain in widespread use. In recognition of this, the WHO has set a number of interim targets for nations to work towards ahead of striving to meet the final guideline.

Ireland's ambition in relation to air quality will be set out in the national clean air strategy and in other transport-related policy. In addition, the revised climate action plan includes a number of actions which will have a significant impact on reducing emissions and improving air quality. These include specific targets for electrification of the national fleet in the years ahead. The Government remains committed to improving our air quality for the benefit of all and is taking a range of measures to do so.

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