Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to tackle the polluting particles from diesel engine cars which contain nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6941/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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 was transposed into Irish law through the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management) Regulations 1999. Under further regulations made in 2002 specific ambient air quality standards have been prescribed for a number of pollutants including nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen. Both these sets of regulations will shortly be replaced by new regulations transposing the Clean Air for Europe Directive which has consolidated previous European legislation on ambient air quality.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has responsibility for the monitoring of Irish air quality. The EPA continually monitors a range of atmospheric pollutants, including particulate matter containing nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, via a network of air quality monitoring stations located around the country. The EPA reports the results of the air quality monitoring on its website at: http://www.epa.ie/whatwedo/monitoring/air/data/ . My Department keeps these data under ongoing review to identify any significant trends which might emerge and also meets periodically with the EPA on air quality issues.

The EPA also publishes a comprehensive annual report on air quality, the most recent being the report Air Quality in Ireland 2009 – Key Indicators of Ambient Air Quality (November 2010) . This report provides an overview of ambient air quality trends in Ireland in 2009 based on data from 28 monitoring stations. The Report confirmed that air quality was generally good at monitoring stations throughout the country. Nitrogen dioxide levels have remained relatively static since 2002. However, an increasing trend of elevated nitrogen dioxide levels has been recorded at traffic influenced sites in Dublin and Cork city centres.

A new European limit value for nitrogen dioxide came into force with effect from 1 January 2010. Prior to this date Member States were required to monitor and take action where necessary to ensure that nitrogen dioxide levels remain below the limit value in future years. EPA monitoring results for 2009 found that concentrations of nitrogen dioxide were below the new limit value at all sites with the exception of one Dublin city centre site at Winetavern Street. The EPA has advised that the elevated nitrogen dioxide levels measured at this site compared to previous years are most likely due to meteorological factors rather than any significant increase in road traffic emissions. Provisional data from monitoring carried out in 2010 suggests that the new limit value was not exceeded.

The four Dublin local authorities are now preparing a follow up action plan with the aim of reducing nitrogen dioxide levels. This is due to be finalised and sent to the EPA by 15 December 2011. The EPA will consider this plan and advise my Department of any necessary action.

The Government's Smarter Travel policy, which seeks to deliver a sustainable travel and transport system by 2020, will contribute to a modal shift away from the car, and will therefore lead to a reduction in transport emissions generally. In addition, new EU standards providing for technological improvements to fossil fuel-powered cars sold in the EU will, over the lifetime of the policy, yield emissions reductions.

regulation (EC) No. 715/2007 set tighter emission limits for particulates and nitrogen oxide from light passenger and commercial vehicles. The new emission limits, known as Euro 5 and Euro 6, take effect in two stages. Euro 5 emission limits came into effect for new registrations from 1 January 2011. The main effect of Euro 5 is to reduce the emission of particulate matter from diesel cars from 25mg/km to 5mg/km by making particle filters for diesel cars obligatory. Euro 6 emission limits will apply for new registrations from 1 September 2015. Euro 6 limits will mainly reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxide from diesel cars further, from 180mg/km to 80mg/km. Further information on euro standards can be found on the website of the Road Safety Authority, www.rsa.ie