Written answers

Wednesday, 10 March 2021

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Air Pollution

Photo of Marian HarkinMarian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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176. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of inspections that have been carried out in 2019 and 2020 regarding compliance with the Air Pollution Act 1987; the number of samples that have been taken during this period; the percentage of samples that breached the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12866/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Enforcement actions under the Air Pollution Act are a matter for Local Authorities and my Department does not compile statistics in relation to inspections undertaken or enforcement actions initiated. The latest Recommended Criteria for Environmental Inspection data collated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with respect to 2019 includes the following air enforcement statistics for Local Authorities:

Air  Quality Inspections Total in 2019
Inspections of Air Emission Licenced Sites 89
Total number of inspections carried out under the solid fuel regulations 1,033
Number of multi-agency inspections carried out. 20
Total number of fuel samples collected and analysed. 106

Further details with respect to how effectively local authorities are enforcing the provisions of environmental  legislation, including the Air Pollution Act, are available from the series of Local Authority Environmental Performance Assessment  reports complied by the EPA. These reports can be accessed at: . The latest report, with respect to 2019, will be published by the EPA in the coming days.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to further strengthen enforcement of air legislation by developing a regional approach to air quality enforcement. A coordinated approach is required given the links between burning of solid fuels and the health effects of air pollution, as well as the potential for market distortion for businesses properly adhering to the rules. Increased multi-agency inspections and enforcement, including the increased use of fixed payment notices, are required and my Department is fully committed to supporting Local Authorities in this regard. 

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