Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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60. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to set up a specific fund for local authorities for the installation of air monitoring units in urban areas; and the level of air monitoring taking place across the State. [17839/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The national air quality monitoring network is operated, maintained, and monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (AAMP), which is funded by my Department. As competent authority under the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive, the EPA decides the most appropriate locations for monitors based on best practice and EU requirements. Accordingly, any questions in relation to the installation of monitors may be addressed to the Agency directly.

A significant upgrade to the AAMP network, funded by my Department, was undertaken in recent years. As a consequence, the number of monitoring stations has increased from 29 in 2017 to 115 today - three times greater than the number required under the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive.

The AAMP is supported by a new air quality modelling and forecasting facility developed under the LIFE EMERALD project. The key goal of LIFE Emerald is to strengthen air quality management in Ireland to ensure effective implementation of the EU Ambient Air Quality. The Forecast Maps were launched by the EPA last November and predict the daily air quality based on the Air Quality Index for Health for up to 3 days.

The EPA also produces an annual report on Air Quality which provides an overview of the quality of our air and key issues that impact upon it. Details of the locations of all monitoring stations currently in operation, along with real-time and historic data from each station, can be found at the website, www.airquality.ie .

My Department and the EPA are currently reviewing the network of stations in light of the revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive and any potential changes to the network will be informed by that review.