Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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It is not an exaggeration to say that Phibsboro junction in my constituency is literally riddled with air pollution. Locals say the smell and the heaviness of the air are inescapable as are the negative effects on one's body. Some in the area, including businesses, feel they are forced to keep their windows closed as what is allowed in when they open them is the furthest thing from clean. In a world where we have rightly become sensitive to the underlying health conditions of the immunocompromised, we cannot stand for our residential areas violating EU air quality limits, which clearly outline a danger to our well-being.

Although anybody caught in traffic at Phibsboro junction for just minutes could explain the dearth of clean air at Doyle's Corner, we now have statistics painting a dire picture of this reality. Under the EU air quality directive, countries must limit air pollution to below 40 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide per cubic metre an hour on average over the course of a year, among other thresholds. When these levels were surpassed in Kilmainham in 2019, the local authority drew up an air quality plan that outlined traffic management, pedestrianisation, cycling projects and the discouragement of car ownership in that area. Phibsboro junction has now exceeded the EU air quality directive limits, at times reaching an monumental and unacceptable 60 micrograms per cubic metre. Plans need to be urgently drawn up to correct this before substantial damage is done to residents' health and the local environment. Many residents are already highlighting respiratory issues in the area. Horrifyingly, the World Health Organization states this number should not even exceed ten micrograms.

Sadly, it is not just this one crossroads in my constituency that suffers from unacceptable air quality. Amiens Street, much of the quays and some other areas of East Wall suffer the same fate, while residents in areas such as Stoneybatter, Drumcondra and Cabra wonder when they will be next. With so many areas in Dublin experiencing this phenomenon, we have reached a point of urgency that demands the attention of the Dáil and not just local authorities.

Will the Minister of State make a commitment to produce a strategy for improving air quality in inner-city Dublin? I also call on the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to install monitoring stations in the worst-affected areas such as Phibsboro so that the rehabilitation of the local air quality can be monitored while attempts to solve this issue are actioned. I believe there are monitoring stations in the Phoenix Park, which seems somewhat counterproductive.

Climate change is often viewed only in a macro level with its threat to our existence as a species. Important as it is to realise the truth of this terrifying fact, we must do all we can to observe this threat at a local level and tackle it at its source.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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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.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I do not doubt for a second how close the issue is to his heart. The issue is also close to my heart and the hearts of the people in my constituency of Dublin Central who seem to be disproportionately impacted by it. Inner-city communities are, by their very nature, areas that are going to be disproportionately impacted by a multitude of different issues. One that is very hard to separate ourselves from is an inequality of clean air. That is very much what were talking about in Phibsborough, around Seán McDermott Street, along the quays, into East Wall and around Sheriff Street. This problem is having consequences for the health of the population in my constituency. I fully appreciate the Minister of State's commitment to the issue.

A couple of suggestions have been made over the last number of years. In 2019, the then Dublin City Council acting executive manager talked about the potential for low-emission zones around our areas. Has any consideration been given to such a suggestion? I know it comes with complications, particularly regarding the inequity of the people can afford electric vehicles and those who cannot. That needs to be dealt with if that consideration is to be advanced. What practical measures can we take that we can introduce quickly? This problem is having significant impacts. Is there potential for air quality management plans to be advanced by local authorities, along the lines of that drawn up in Dublin 8? I ask that a similar plan be advanced in Dublin 7 and Dublin 1, if possible. It is coming to the point where we need this type of action. I ask the Minister of State to provide some tangible actions that we can advance quite quickly.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Overall, we have approximately 1,410 premature deaths from poor air quality or air pollution. It is a terrible problem. It is estimated by the European Environment Agency that 100 of those premature deaths are related to transport emissions rather than solid fuel. However, they are localised. As the Deputy mentioned, many of them are localised in his constituency.

The Deputy asked for the fastest or most immediate things we can do. I think the pedestrianisation of Capel Street must have had a dramatic effect. There has been air monitoring of that and I am keen to see the results. I would like to see the before and after.

The Deputy also mentioned low-emission zones. This is a proposal from Dublin City Council, as I understand. I am happy to go back to it. I think Mr. Liam Bergin is the point person on that. I am happy to talk to the Deputy about that or meet the council with the Deputy if he wishes.

There has been a reallocation of road space towards cycling and walking. The use of electric taxis and buses is particularly worthy of mention. The Deputy mentioned that the grants towards electric vehicles can be inequitable. The electrification of our bus and taxi fleets is critical because those vehicles do huge mileage in the city centre where lots of people are breathing in the air. We are ordering 800 double-decker electric vehicles. We are seeing more electric taxis on the street. The grants of between €20,000 and €30,000 are having an effect. Those measures will have direct effects. The crossroads at Phibsborough is choked with traffic. One can see that it is having an effect on air pollution. It also affects quality of life through noise pollution and through the fear that one might get run over in such heavy traffic. Clearly, we need to change going into the future. We can look at other cities and see formerly incredibly congested junctions that have changed to a more human-focused, healthier and happier pattern. That is going to happen here, based on sustainable transport policies.