Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the report presented to the Clean Air for Europe steering group by the European Commission which shows that air pollution kills 300,000 Europeans annually; its implications for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11032/05]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland supports the EU Clean Air for Europe, CAFE, programme and the development of a thematic strategy which is due to be published later this year. The strategy will establish interim environmental objectives for air pollution for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment in the period to 2020, with an emphasis on particulate matter and ground-level ozone pollution. Other pollutants addressed in the programme include nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds and ammonia.

Due to our geographic location and climatic circumstances, ground-level ozone pollution is not a problem in Ireland. The main source of particulate matter pollution is emissions from road traffic. This is borne out by the 2004 report by the EPA on Ireland's environment, which identifies emissions from road traffic as the greatest challenge to maintaining and improving air quality.

Air quality standards for a wide range of pollutants, including particulate matter, which are provided in EU legislation are transposed into national law under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2002. Furthermore, a national programme for the progressive reduction of the four trans-boundary air pollutants — sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia — will be announced shortly.

Any new measures emerging from, or necessitated by, the CAFE thematic strategy when finalised will be incorporated into national policy and implemented in Ireland.