Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 December 2014
161. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on recent recordings of air pollution levels by University College Cork centre of research into atmospheric chemistry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47366/14]
View answer165. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on recent recordings of air pollution levels (details supplied) by University College of Cork centre of research in atmosphere chemistry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47392/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 165 together.
Air quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out to meet the requirements of EU Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, also known as the CAFE Directive. The EPA has responsibility for the monitoring of air quality in Ireland, and monitors a range of atmospheric pollutants, based on data obtained from the 29 monitoring stations that form the national ambient air quality network.
The EPA publishes an annual report on air quality. The most recent report, Air Quality in Ireland 2013 – Key Indicators of Ambient Air Quality, which is available on the EPA website at http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/air/quality/ , was published in October 2014 and provides an assessment of air quality in Ireland for 2013, compared to CAFE Directive standards as well as assessments in relation to more stringent World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines for the protection of human health.
Ireland currently meets all EU standards for air quality but exceeds WHO guidelines for particulate matter in some areas. Particulate matter levels are of concern, particularly during the winter heating season in areas where the use of solid fuel is prevalent and the sale of ‘smoky’ coal is permitted. As a result, levels of particulate matter in smaller towns are often higher than those in cities, where ‘smoky’ coal is banned.
The EPA also funds research monitoring and the air pollution levels recorded in Killarney by the Environmental Research Institute of University College Cork are part of this research and elaborate the findings of EPA air quality monitoring at local level. Elevated levels of particulate matter were found to occur in Killarney during the winter evenings and this has been attributed primarily to the burning of solid fuel. The research is endeavouring to attribute the level of air pollution to specific fuels, including coal, peat and wood.
The ban on the marketing, sale, distribution and burning of bituminous fuel (or ‘smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known) currently applies in 26 urban areas nationwide, including all towns with a population greater than 15,000 people bringing the ban areas broadly into line with national EPA air quality management zones. While the ban does not currently apply in Killarney as its population is below the threshold for compulsory inclusion, local authorities may at any time propose new towns for consideration for inclusion under the ban if it is considered necessary to protect local air quality.
While air quality monitoring by the EPA has shown that air quality is poorer in towns where the ‘smoky’ coal ban does not apply, there is also evidence that smaller ban areas tend to be less effective. The further extension of the ban to smaller towns on an individual basis may not be the most effective solution to addressing the problem of emissions from residential solid fuel use in these areas. Similarly, the border with Northern Ireland would present enforcement challenges if a national ban on smoky coal were unilaterally introduced. However, it is recognised that having different regulations between urban and rural locations is not ideal, as it results in different levels of environmental protection and clean air benefits for citizens in different locations.
Under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC), and in conjunction with the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, my Department has commissioned a study to inform a discussion on policy options to further address emissions from residential solid fuel use on an all-island basis. A final report is due to be presented to the NSMC in May 2015.
