Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 December 2020
32. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which his Department and other State agencies plan to address the poor EPA air quality statistics in Ennis, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42237/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWeather conditions are a major factor in “spikes” in levels of emissions at this time of year. Calm and foggy conditions, together with domestic burning of solid fuel can lead to a build-up of air pollutants far greater than those normally experienced. These events also serve to demonstrate how the choices we make in heating our homes can have a significant bearing on the quality of the air in the communities in which we live. It is important that where low smoke zones have been established, such as Ennis, that there are adequate measures in place to ensure regulatory compliance. Responsibility for ensuring such compliance rest with local authorities under Section10 of the Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 326 of 2012). My Department has commenced discussions with the Local Authority sector to develop a regional approach to air quality enforcement. The intention is to establish dedicated resources within regional lead authorities to provide co-ordination, expertise and advice to support effective and consistent implementation of air quality legislation across the country.
Ireland has a network of 84 monitoring stations which measure levels of air pollutants across the state. The provision of improved data from this network has highlighted the extent to which solid fuels, such as turf, peat and wet wood, as well as bituminous coal, contribute to the emissions in our air and this must be taken into consideration in the development of new measures to regulate to a broader extent the use of solid fuels in the residential sector.
The first step in this process will be the launch of a solid fuel public consultation which will be published alongside the Clean Air Strategy early next year. The consultation will seek views on new measures to regulate the use of all solid fuels in the residential sector, while the Clean Air Strategy will set out a comprehensive cross Government programme of policies and measures that will tackle all sources of air pollution, including those from the transport, agriculture and residential sectors.
