Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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25. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the potential health and environmental effects of the misuse or defective use of particulate filters on diesel cars and other vehicles and the fact there currently is no effective testing by the NCT system for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32127/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Road transport is a significant source of harmful emissions in Ireland and across Europe. Emissions from transport, including particulate emissions, can have a detrimental impact on environmental ecosystems and on human health.  Inhalation of Particulate Matter (PM) can increase respiratory morbidity (including exacerbation of existing conditions such as asthma) as well as contributing to cardiovascular disease.

The European Environment Agency report Air Quality in Europe - 2015, estimated that in Ireland alone 1,200 premature deaths could be attributed to PM2.5, the smallest type of particulate matter that can penetrate deepest into the lungs.  While transport and diesel engines are not the only source of particulate emissions affecting our health, they are a significant contributor in urban areas.  Any practice that exacerbates this situation and the exposure of the population to damaging emissions, including tampering with particulate filters on diesel cars, is of serious concern.

The management and administration of the national NCT is a matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.  I am, of course, conscious of the links across different policy sectors.  With this in mind, my Department is in the process of preparing a paper for consultation on Ireland's first ever national Clean Air Strategy.  The strategy will provide a framework for a formal set of cross-Government policies and actions to reduce harmful emissions from all sources, including transport, thereby improving our air quality and public health.  I look forward to engaging with Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and his Department through the strategy consultation on any and all practical means of reducing emissions from the transport sector, including any necessary measures to enhance emission abatement checks during the NCT, on-road vehicle testing and the possibility of accessing information in the on-board diagnostic system.