Vol. 490 No. 5
41 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the report produced by a senior Dublin Corporation environmental scientist in which he warned that air quality in Dublin will continue to suffer and fail to meet EU directive levels if current traffic conditions continue; the steps, if any, he is taking to deal with this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10496/98]
218 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will consider measures to improve air quality by encouraging the use of cleaner car fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10556/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 218 together.
I am aware of the recent Dublin Corporation report from the Office of the Director of Traffic entitled "Review of the existing air quality and proposals for additional monitoring of traffic related emissions in Dublin City". Like the Environmental Protection Agency baseline study on concentrations of PM 10 and volatile organic compounds in Dublin City published earlier this year, the report notes that levels of certain air pollutants show some correlation with traffic volumes and recommends that the impact of current traffic management strategies on air quality should be assessed. However, air quality in Dublin and elsewhere in the country is generally good and all mandatory national and EU ambient standards are currently met.
A proposed subsidiary directive relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead under directive 96/62/EC on ambient air quality assessment and management is under consideration by the EU Council of Environment Ministers and the European Parliament. I have indicated Ireland's support for the proposals while acknowledging that the limit values, for oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter especially, will be challenging, particularly in some heavily trafficked urban areas.
A proposal for a directive setting an air quality standard for benzene, highlighted in the Dublin Corporation report, is expected from the European Commission as part of the programme of subsidiary directives to be developed under directive 96/62/EC.
