Vol. 486 No. 6
229 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals, if any, his Department has to produce a national air quality strategy in view of the statement by the Environmental Protection Agency in their report, Air Quality 1996, which identifies road traffic as the greatest threat to the quality of air, especially in the urban environment. [3405/98]
I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 123 of 4 December 1997 and 126 of 27 November 1997. Preparation by the Environmental Protection Agency of the national air quality monitoring programme mentioned in the previous replies will have regard to a preliminary assessment of ambient air quality required under Directive 96/62/EC — on ambient air quality assessment and management. Requirements in this regard will be further specified in the context of a proposed subsidiary directive relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air.
