Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent, if any, to which air pollution monitoring points throughout the country have recorded any changes arising from the Icelandic volcanic eruptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16265/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The monitoring, assessment and management of ambient air quality in Ireland is carried out according to the requirements of the EU Air Quality Framework Directive. This Directive became law through the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management) Regulations, 1999.

The EPA, under the aegis of my Department, has responsibility for the monitoring of Irish air quality, and continually monitors a range of atmospheric pollutants via a network of air quality monitoring stations located around the country. The main air pollutants that could be associated with the volcanic ash plume are sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter, or dust, with a diameter less than 10μm (PM10), and both these pollutants are monitored at EPA air monitoring stations at locations across the country. Monitoring data from these stations have to date shown no increase in either PM10 or SO2 levels as a result of the volcanic ash cloud.

I am aware of reports that volcanic ash particles have been observed in very small quantities by the National University of Ireland Galway's atmospheric research station at Mace Head. This facility is supported by the EPA's research programme.

It remains the case, however, that PM10 and SO2 levels have not increased beyond the range of normal daily variations. As such the EPA has not recorded the small amounts detected at Mace Head as an unusual increase and continues to report no deterioration in air quality.

As a precautionary measure, the EPA has increased its air quality monitoring activity for the duration of the ash cloud event and is monitoring the situation on an hourly basis. Data from monitoring stations are transmitted to the EPA website in real-time and can be viewed at http://www.epa.ie/whatwedo/monitoring/air/data/.

Any dust that may be deposited over Ireland during the next few days as a result of the eruption will most likely be in very small quantities and it is not expected that this will have any significant impact on air quality standards.

The Emergency Response Co-ordination Committee, convened and chaired by the Department of Transport to co-ordinate the Government's response to issues arising in connection with the volcanic eruption, continues to meet daily and both my Department and the EPA are in attendance at these meetings. Updates on air quality issues arising from the eruption will continue to be posted on the EPA website at http://www.epa.ie/whatwedo/monitoring/air/data/vocanicashupdate/.