Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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232. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress in delivering on the programme for Government commitment to publish a national clean air strategy and to develop a regional approach to air quality and noise enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35306/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department is currently working to finalise Ireland’s first National Clean Air Strategy which I intend to publish in the coming months. There are a number of national policy frameworks already in place which will also help to reduce pollutant emissions and improve air quality, such as the Climate Action Plan, National Energy Efficiency Action Plan and the National Renewable Energy Plan. It is important that synergies are maximised between these plans and the Clean Air Strategy, with a view to achieving lasting reductions in the health and environmental impacts of air pollution in the most effective manner.

My Department has commenced discussions with the local authority sector to determine how a regional approach to air and noise enforcement will be developed. The intention is to establish dedicated resources within regional lead authorities to provide co-ordination, expertise and advice to support effective and consistent implementation of air and noise legislation across the country. Building on the success of other regional environmental enforcement and implementation models, I expect this Programme for Government commitment to also be significantly progressed in the coming months.