Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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18. To ask the Minister for Health his view regarding a potential health risk from the recent fire at the Oxigen plant in the Ballymount industrial estate (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will indicate if there have been health implications resulting from this fire. [6699/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Matters relating to air quality and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are matters for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in the first instance.

I have been advised that the results from the EPA's national ambient air quality monitoring network show that there was no breach of air quality standards at any of the monitoring stations in the network for the duration of the fire. Elevated pollution levels were recorded by the closest monitor, located at Ballyfermot Library, but these were still within prescribed pollutant limit values for the protection of human health set out in national and EU air quality legislation.

The EPA issued health related advice to local residents. EPA inspectors undertook additional air monitoring over the duration of the fire. While it is too early at this stage to provide a fully detailed air quality report, these results are being compiled and a report on the monitoring undertaken will be prepared by the EPA. The HSE has advised that individuals most at risk from exposure to hazardous combustion products are those who have pre-existing respiratory diseases, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Acute exposure to smoke is likely to exacerbate these conditions. Elderly individuals, smokers and those with cardiac conditions may also be at greater risk than the general population. I am further advised that as the exposure was short-term, it is very unlikely to give rise to any long-term health effects.