Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:362 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he is satisfied that adequate measures are in place to monitor air pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20178/01]
Written Answers. - Air Pollution.
Irish air quality is generally good, as reported by the EPA annually in its air quality monitoring reports.
The adequacy of measures to monitor air pollution is a matter in the first instance for the relevant local authorities and the EPA. Since February 1999, under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (Air Quality Assessment and Management) Regulations, 1999, the EPA has been designated as the responsible body for the requirements of the EU Framework Directive 96/62/EC for ambient air quality assessment and management. In discharge of these functions, the agency has,inter alia, published the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme: A Discussion Document – August 2000. This provides the basis for the future development over the next ten years of Ireland's air quality monitoring network to meet the technical standards and other requirements, that is, distribution nationally and micro-scale location, set out in the Framework Directive and subsequent and prospective daughter directives dealing with specific pollutants. The discussion document is available in the Library.
Recommendations arising from the national monitoring programme and the preliminary assessment of national air quality, also prepared by the EPA in pursuance of its responsibilities under the EU directives concerned, will form the basis for decisions by the agency and local authorities in relation to future air quality monitoring.