Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 4

Written Answers. - Air Pollution.

John Gormley

Ceist:

250 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a recent study of air quality in the College Green area of Dublin which suggests that the relevant authorities have cause to be greatly concerned; the proposals, if any, his Department has for the amelioration of this problem which affects both residents of and visitors to the city, particularly those suffering from asthmatic conditions or bronchial complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14295/98]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace)

I presume the Deputy is referring either to the Environmental Protection Agency report "A Baseline Study on Concentrations of PM 10 and Volatile Organic Compounds in Dublin City" or to a 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".

I refer to the replies to Question No. 121 of 30 April 1998 and Questions Nos. 14, 41 and 218 of 6 May 1998, which set out the position in relation to these reports and the measures currently under way or proposed.

John Gormley

Ceist:

251 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his Department, the local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency all operate to common standards in relation to their respective responsibilities in the monitoring of fuel emissions and ambient air quality; the standards in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14297/98]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace)

My Department has set statutory national air quality standards for sulphur dioxide, suspended particulates, nitrogen dioxide and lead in the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Air Quality Standards) Regulations, 1987 (S. I. No. 244 of 1987). Monitoring of ozone is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency having regard to the thresholds set out in the Environmental

Protection Agency Act, 1992 (Ozone) Regulations, 1997 (S. I. No. 132 of 1997). The monitoring of ambient air quality is carried out by the relevant statutory authorities by reference to these statutory requirements. The monitoring of point source emissions, which are subject to licensing by local authorities under Part III of the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (No. 6 of 1987), or to integrated pollution control licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (No. 7 of 1992), is a matter for the relevant local authorities or the Environmental Protection Agency, as appropriate.