Bernard J. Durkan
Question:592 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the extent of air pollution; the regions or areas affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2014/00]
Written Answers. - Air Pollution.
Information on air pollution is available in the following reports by the Environmental Protection Agency, copies of which have been placed in the Oireachtas Library: Air Pollutants in Ireland: Emissions, Depositions and Concentrations 1984-1994 (EPA 1995); State of the Environment in Ireland (EPA 1996); Air Quality Monitoring – Annual Report 1997 (EPA 1998); A Baseline Study on the Concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds and PM10 in Dublin City (3 volumes, EPA 1997); Environment in Focus (EPA 1999).
The following reports, which are available from the relevant local authorities, also contain infor mation on air pollution: Dublin County Air Quality & Noise Report, April, 1999; Dublin Corporation, Atmospheric Pollution and Noise Control Unit, Annual Report 1998/99; Air Pollution in Cork City, 1998 report.
These sources indicate that air quality in Ireland is generally good, and that the main threats to this are the ambient levels of nitrogen oxides and small particulate matter in heavily trafficked urban areas. Levels of these pollutants are being tackled by various measures to deal with emissions from traffic at national and EU levels, including improved fuel quality, improved standards for emissions from new vehicles, the national car test and increased investment in public transport.