Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent to which air pollutants have been recorded at various locations here; if such measurements indicate a trend, with particular reference to compliance with Kyoto principles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5226/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 658: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent to which air pollutants have been recorded at various recording points throughout County Kildare; if such measurements indicate a trend, with particular reference to compliance with Kyoto principles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5775/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 658 together.

Air quality assessment is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and air quality management a matter for local authorities informed by air quality measurement data. The EPA's ambient air quality in Ireland report 2004, which is available in the Oireachtas Library, contains details of the monitoring and assessment of national air quality and incorporates data from all air quality monitoring stations operated by the EPA and local authorities. Air quality was good throughout the country in 2004 and complied with the air quality standards in force for all pollutants.

The EPA is also responsible for the preparation of annual greenhouse gas inventories in accordance with guidelines from the intergovernmental panel on climate change under the United Nations framework convention on climate change. The agency compiles much of the information on the basis of national activities data, such as energy balances and agriculture statistics, obtained from relevant Government Departments and their agencies, and the Central Statistics Office. Trends in ambient air pollutants are not relevant to compliance with greenhouse gas emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol.