Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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598. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Minister of Health or officials from that Department have communicated with his Department on the impact of air pollutants on health and persons with particular respiratory diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26486/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department received a submission from the Department of Health, and two submissions from the Health Service Executive (HSE), to the public consultation held in 2017 on the proposed National Clean Air Strategy.

Officials from both Departments take part in the Air Quality Health Information Working Group, chaired by the Environmental Protection Agency, which meets twice a year.

In addition, my officials have liaised with officials from the Department of Health in relation to the Warmth and Wellbeing Scheme which is a policy initiative between my Department and the Department of Health, and is jointly operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the HSE. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have been procured to undertake a research project that will run in parallel with the scheme’s delivery to determine the extent to which air quality and energy improvements can lead to tangible health and wellbeing gains.