Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
963. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the research undertaken by his Department regarding outdoor air pollution; the main causes affecting Ireland in order of impact; the action being taken to address the causes of air pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3933/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile overall air quality in Ireland is good compared to more urbanised and industrialised countries, Ireland faces some challenges in relation to both emissions and ambient air quality. With regard to emissions, exceedances against our EU ceilings are currently projected in the period to 2030 for ammonia, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs).
My Department is taking several steps to meet these challenges. A range of measures outlined in the Climate Action Plan 2019 will help ameliorate transport-related NOx and NMVOCs emissions. These include:
Putting 180,000 electric vehicles on our roads by 2025 and almost 1 million by 2030
Steps to decarbonise the public transport fleet
The development of a 5-year Cycling Strategy, and the roll-out of 200km of new cycle lanes through Bus Connects
Encouraging a transition to public transport through a new Park and Ride Strategy to help reduce congestion and lower journey times
Legislating for no new fossil fuel vehicles to be sold from 2030 onwards
In addition, officials from my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport are co-chairing a working group on Urban Transport-Related Air Pollution, comprising representatives of the two Departments as well as the Departments of Health, Finance, and Public Expenditure and Reform, the Dublin Local Authorities, the EPA and various bodies in the transport sector, including TII, the NRA, and the RSA. This group will report later this year with recommendations to address pollution from traffic.
These measures will complement the work of my Department in developing a Clean Air Strategy, which will set out and give effect to clean air policies a manner consistent with national, EU and international policy considerations and priorities. This will include addressing agricultural ammonia through the adoption of abatement technologies and improvements in nutrient management at farm level.
Ireland also faces challenges in relation to concentrations of particulate matter (PM) in smaller towns, which is predominately related to domestic solid fuel burning. The extension of the current smoky coal ban to 13 new towns from September of this year will address concentrations of PM and related health concerns in these towns.
Finally, my Department funds, and is informed by, an ongoing research programme into outdoor air pollution overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Reports of recent EPA air quality research projects are available online at https://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/research/air/.
