Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I also addressed this issue in a Topical Issue debate just last week, when I talked about the EPA report on air pollution and the impact that is having on public health, including excess mortality in our communities. Up to 1,400 people a year die as a result of air pollution. Although it is a very stark figure, it does not take account of the number of people who suffer adverse health impacts from air pollution. In the case of kids going to school, they are at the wrong height in terms of tailpipe emissions. I have skin in the game in that I bring my kids over and back to a school in Tramore. The most dangerous part of that journey is the last couple of hundred metres because that is where cars pull up and idle. We can see those physical dangers in terms of car movements, but what is less obvious and visible is the danger posed by tailpipe emissions coming from those cars. I do not think it is something on which we have adequate public awareness. A public awareness campaign could contribute to that.

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