Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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1510. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the way the EPA Air Quality Index is compiled in view of the fact that in some counties there are no monitoring sites but despite this air quality ratings are provided for these counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32107/15]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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1511. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of mobile units deployed to monitor ambient air quality at any one time on average detailing the omissions they are capable of detecting and recording; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32108/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1510 and 1511 together.

Under the Clean Air for Europe Directive, also known as the CAFÉ Directive, for the purpose of assessing and managing air quality, EU member states must designate "Zones". The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the competent authority for the implementation of the Directive in Ireland designated four zones which were originally designated in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2011. The zones were subsequently amended on 1 January 2013 to take account of population counts from the 2011 Census.

The main areas defined in each Irish zone are:

- Zone A: Dublin

- Zone B: Cork

- Zone C: Other cities and large towns including Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Drogheda, Dundalk, Bray, Navan, Ennis, Tralee, Kilkenny, Carlow, Naas, Sligo, Newbridge, Mullingar, Wexford, Letterkenny, Athlone, Celbridge, Clonmel, Balbriggan, Greystones, Leixlip and Portlaoise.

- Zone D: Rural Ireland, i.e. the remainder of the State excluding Zones A, B and C.

Upper and lower assessment thresholds are prescribed in the legislation for a number of pollutants. Within each zone, air quality is assessed and classified with respect to these thresholds, based on measurements over the previous five years. The results of this assessment help to inform decisions on the extent of monitoring. The greatest monitoring effort applies where concentrations are above the upper assessment threshold, i.e. where they approach or exceed the limit value. Where concentrations are between the two thresholds, less intensive measurement combined with other assessment methods, such as air quality modelling, will generally suffice. Monitoring sites are located in accordance with CAFÉ Directive requirements.

In relation to mobile monitoring, the EPA currently possesses three units. Two of these units are used for assessment and reporting purposes in accordance with the Directive. These are mainly used for assessing air quality in Zone C towns but on occasion have been used in other zones as required. The units usually monitor for a period of 1 – 2 years at any one location before being re-assigned to a new location. The stations are equipped with monitors for carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter.

The monitoring units have been recently used in a number of locations including Mullingar, Newbridge, Letterkenny and Shannon and are currently located in Portlaoise and Enniscorthy. The assessment reports for monitored locations, including near real-time air quality information, are available on the EPA website.

In addition to the two monitoring units referred to above, the EPA has recently acquired a third mobile monitoring unit for use in emergency air quality incidents.