Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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126. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the national clear air strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62475/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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A public consultation on the draft Clean Air Strategy was undertaken during the period March to May of this year and over 100 submissions were received. The strategy is now being reviewed and updated to reflect both the outcome of the consultation process and policy developments which have occurred in the intervening period that impact on plans to improve the quality of our air.

Given the health imperative associated with the burning of solid fuels for domestic heating purposes, the introduction of the new solid fuel regulations was prioritised. The Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 529 of 2022) have introduced minimum quality standards that apply to all solid fuels distributed throughout the State. This is to ensure that the most polluting can no longer be made available on the Irish market and to assist the public in transitioning to less polluting alternatives. These regulations are a central plank of the Clean Air Strategy, which will now be published early next year.

The strategy will outline how we will enhance and protect the air we breathe, and set out a pathway, based on a comprehensive cross-Government programme of policies and measures, that will tackle all sources of air pollution. As such, it will also need to consider the impact of the forthcoming Climate Action Plan and new proposals at EU level for a revised Ambient Air Quality Directive.