Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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230. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to implement the European Union's clean air for Europe directive's national emissions reduction target for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8580/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Under the Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive, Ireland is required to reduce exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). The CAFE Directive was transposed into Irish legislation by the Air Quality Standards Regulations 201. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the competent authority for the Regulations and the CAFE Directive. These regulations require that Member States reduce exposure to PM_2.5depending on baseline levels in ambient air, and not entailing disproportionate costs. For Ireland the national exposure reduction target (NERT) is 10%, assessed by the EPA using baseline data for the years 2009-11. The required reduction in PM_2.5exposure was calculated based on air quality monitoring carried out by the EPA from 2009 - 2011. There are multiple sources of fine particulate matter pollution and all are harmful to health. Sources include the following: residential heating– solid fuels; traffic – exhaust fumes; industry – emissions to air, Energy – emissions to air from power stations and refineries; and agriculture, forestries and fisheries – emissions to air from mobile farm machinery, fishing vessels.

Total emissions of PM_2.5reduced in the decade up to 2011 but, without corrective action, are forecast to rise, in particular in the residential, industry and energy sectors, in the years up to 2020. Meeting the NERT will require a broad strategy across policy areas involving industry, the transport sector, the energy sector and all public authorities.

The first step in this process has been taken with the establishment of the NERT working group, which is a body of stakeholders, headed by the EPA, who will work to develop and implement the NERT strategy. One feature of the strategy will be an examination of Ireland’s residential heating sources, fuel types and the efficiency of the solid fuel heating systems used in Ireland for residential heating.

The complex relationship between a reduction in our carbon footprint and decreasing PM_2.5concentrations needs to be tackled in the plans to implement the NERT for 2020. Emissions of PM_2.5from biomass are expected to increase in the residential, commercial and energy sectors. This will offset the reductions achieved from energy efficiency measures in these sectors and other policy initiatives including the extension of the ban on bituminous coal, and so will require consideration to be given to tackling other high emissions residential solid fuels. The potential for emissions abatement in these sectors will be analysed.

It is also important that all relevant facilities in the industry and energy sectors are using Best Available Technology to minimise emissions of PM_2.5to air. Policies encouraging the use of biomass should be reviewed to ensure facilities are directed towards efficient combustion methods and towards those biofuels with the lowest emissions. Energy efficiency should continue to be promoted as the primary method to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.