I propose to take Questions Nos. 751, 779 and 780 together.
Recent scientific evidence indicates that air pollution is more damaging at lower concentrations than was previously understood. Air pollution also arises from a wide range of sources, including residential heating, transport and agriculture. With this in mind, I am committed to bringing forward Ireland's first ever National Clean Air Strategy. The Strategy, which I intend to publish later this year, will provide the policy framework necessary to identify and promote integrated measures across Government that are required to reduce air pollution and promote cleaner air, while delivering on wider national objectives.
The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, or ‘the smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known, has proven very successful since first introduced in Dublin in 1990 and subsequently extended so that it now applies in 26 urban areas nationwide.
I am disappointed that a number of coal firms have indicated they would legally challenge the decision of two former Ministers to extend the ban nationwide. As a result it has not proven possible to extend the ban nationwide for the 2019/2020 year. The coal companies have indicated that if the smoky coal ban is extended, they will challenge both the new ban and the existing ban, on the basis that the state should also have to ban the burning of other fossil fuels, including wood and peat products. I am working with the Attorney General to finalise a legally robust plan which will improve air quality by reducing particulate matter in the air.
Estimates of the numbers of deaths attributable to air pollution in 41 European countries are released on an annual basis by the European Environment Agency. This assessment requires information on air pollution, demographic data, and the relationship between exposure to ambient pollutant concentrations and a health outcome. Figures for 2019 are not yet available. The latest report, published in 2018, gives data for 2015 and is available at the following link:
https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2018
It indicates that there were in the order of 1,150 premature deaths in Ireland attributable to air pollution in 2015.
In relation to the number of air pollution breaches so far in 2019, ambient air quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the 2008 Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive (Directive 2008/50/EC), and the Fourth Daughter Directive (Directive 2004/107/EC of 15 December 2004). These Directives also include rules on how Member States should monitor, assess and manage ambient air quality.
Following a review by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of air quality monitoring and information provision in Ireland, a decision was taken to expand and enhance the air quality monitoring network. The roll-out of the enhanced network, the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (AAMP), is progressing and over the period 2017 to 2022 will more than double the capacity of ambient air quality monitoring in Ireland. One of the key objectives of the programme is to enhance the provision of real time air quality data to the public. My Department has committed funding of some €5 million over the lifetime of the programme.
Regarding the number of breaches recorded this year, provisional data from the EPA, which is subject to further validation, indicates that up until 6 June, there have been 98 breaches of the PM10 daily limit value during 2019 at stations as outlined in the table. Under the provisions of the CAFE Directive, an exceedance for PM10 is recorded if the limit is breached more than 35 times at an individual monitoring station during the year.
Number of values greater than 50 ug/m3
Station Name
|
Year to date 06/06/2019
|
Station Location
|
Station Type
|
Station Operator
|
Ballyfermot
|
7
|
Dublin 10
|
Suburban Background
|
Dublin City Council
|
Blanchardstown
|
4
|
Dublin 15
|
Suburban Traffic
|
Fingal County Council
|
Brownes Road
|
1
|
Waterford City
|
Suburban Background
|
EPA
|
Castlebar
|
1
|
Co. Mayo
|
Suburban Background
|
EPA
|
CIT Bishopstown
|
3
|
Cork City
|
Suburban Background
|
CIT
|
Davitt Road
|
15
|
Dublin 2
|
Suburban Traffic
|
Dublin City Council
|
Dundalk
|
2
|
Co. Louth
|
Suburban Background
|
EPA
|
Enniscorthy
|
11
|
Enniscorthy Town
|
Suburban Background
|
Wexford County Council
|
Finglas
|
2
|
Dublin 11
|
Suburban Background
|
Dublin City Council
|
Kilkitt
|
1
|
Co. Monaghan
|
Rural Background
|
EPA
|
Marino
|
4
|
Dublin 3
|
Suburban Background
|
Dublin City Council
|
Phoenix Park
|
2
|
Dublin 8
|
Suburban Background
|
Dublin City Council
|
Rathmines
|
5
|
Dublin 6
|
Urban Background
|
EPA
|
Ringsend
|
12
|
Dublin 4
|
Urban Traffic
|
EPA
|
Roscommon
|
2
|
Roscommon City
|
Suburban Background
|
EPA
|
Seville Lodge
|
7
|
Kilkenny City
|
Suburban Background
|
EPA
|
South Link Road
|
5
|
Cork City
|
Suburban Traffic
|
Cork City Council
|
St. Anne’s
|
1
|
Dublin 5
|
Suburban Background
|
EPA
|
St. John’s Road West
|
5
|
Dublin 8
|
Urban Traffic
|
Dublin City Council
|
Winetavern Street
|
8
|
Dublin 8
|
Urban Traffic
|
Dublin City Council
|
There have been no breaches of limit values for other pollutants so far this year.