My Department remains committed to working with the Local Authority sector in developing and resourcing a regional approach to air quality enforcement. Discussions are on-going with the Local Authority sector to establish an appropriate structure to provide co-ordination, expertise and advice to support effective and consistent implementation of air quality legislation across the country.
This process will ensure greater consistency of approach in terms of objectives, decisions, actions, and final environmental outcomes, as well as facilitating co-ordinated, intelligence led enforcement activities with other authorities such as An Garda Síochána and the Revenue Commissioners.
Over the past number of months, my Department has intensified its engagement with the County and City Manager Association in order to progress this new enforcement programme which will be supported by a financial provision of €1.2M secured in Budget 2022.