Written answers

Thursday, 28 June 2012

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Air and Water Pollution

5:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which air and/or water pollution has been detected in each of the past five years to date; the trends if any emerging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31439/12]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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With regard to detection of air pollution, ambient air quality monitoring and assessment in Ireland is carried out in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, also known as the CAFE Directive. The CAFE Directive consolidated and replaced the earlier Air Quality Framework Directive and the first three so-called "daughter" directives.

The CAFE Directive has been transposed into national legislation by the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2011. These regulations set limit values/target values for the following pollutants: Sulphur Dioxide; Nitrogen Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen; Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5 ); Lead; Benzene; Carbon Monoxide; and Ozone. In addition, the Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Nickel and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air Regulations 2009 transpose the fourth "daughter" Directive 2004/107/EC and specify target values and monitoring requirements for arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The EPA publishes a comprehensive annual report on air quality, the most recent being the report, Air Quality in Ireland 2010 – Key Indicators of Ambient Air Quality, published in September 2011. This report provides an overview of ambient air quality trends in Ireland in 2010 based on data from 28 monitoring stations. The Report confirmed that air quality in Ireland is of a high standard and remains the best in Europe. In 2010, measured values for the above mentioned pollutants were all below limit and target values set out in legislation. However, levels of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide continue to remain of concern in some areas. Trends over time and future outlook for individual pollutants are also noted in the Report.

The EPA, local authorities, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Marine Institute all monitor rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters plus groundwater quality under the Water Framework Directive on a three-year cycle. This extensive monitoring programme provides a good overview of current water quality and trends as they develop.

Water quality trends emerging in recent years include a notable decline in the incidence of serious pollution events from 39 sites in the 2004-2006 period, to 20 sites in the 2007-2009 period and currently down to 11 sites. There has also been a stabilisation in the length of river channel regarded as unpolluted, at approximately 71% of the length surveyed. However, the period has also been marked by a steady decline in the number of river sites at high ecological status.

Comprehensive reports on water quality are published every three years by the EPA and are available for download at www.epa.ie .

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