Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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38. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to improve Ireland's air quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13893/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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While Ireland’s air quality is generally good and compares favourably with many of our European colleagues, we cannot afford to be complacent in this area. Recent research shows that air pollution has more damaging impacts on human health at lower levels than was previously understood. In our small country alone, premature mortality from air pollution is estimated at four people per day.

With this in mind, I am engaged in progressing a range of measures to safeguard and improve our air quality. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, I launched a public consultation paper earlier this month with a view to producing the first ever National Clean Air Strategy. The consultation is open until 28 April and I look forward to receiving a broad range of submissions and views.  The Clean Air Strategy, which I intend to finalise this year, will provide the strategic framework for a set of cross-Government policies and actions to reduce harmful emissions, and consequential health impacts, by improving our air quality. The strategy will address a wide range of national policies that are relevant to air quality such as residential solid fuel, transport, energy, and agriculture. My officials have already engaged in preliminary discussions on the proposed Strategy with relevant Government Departments and other stakeholders.

In parallel with the Strategy, I am providing additional resources to support the Environmental Protection Agency in their plans to improve the air quality monitoring network in Ireland. The extra resources will enable the EPA to double the number of monitoring stations in the country, and provide extra support to local authorities in developing new capabilities and capacities in air quality monitoring.