Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
101. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment; Climate and Communications if he will put in place plans to develop a real-time monitoring system for air quality with live alerts to minimise exacerbations and sudden ill-health of those with underlying conditions through education and awareness of current levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40775/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme, operated by the Environmental Protection Agency, has undergone significant investment and expansion in recent years, with the number of monitoring stations increasing from 30 in 2017 to 95 today.
All monitoring stations collect air quality data for a range of pollutants in order to provide information to the public, and for assessment against European legal limit values and World Health Organisation guideline values. Real-time data from these monitoring stations is available online at all times at www.airquality.ie, and the air quality readings are illustrated according to the Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH).
While Ireland has traditionally focused on measurements from monitoring stations to assess air quality, there is a need to provide more local air quality information throughout the country. The intention is that the information generated through monitoring, will be augmented by a newly developed modelling and forecasting capability, which will provide an ongoing air quality forecast service to the public.
This work is being developed as part of a new EU LIFE funded project called LIFE EMERALD, which commenced in January 2021. By 2024, this modelling project will deliver a national air quality forecast, a near real-time nowcast, and historical modelled maps along with multiple awareness raising and citizen engagement elements.
In the interim, a further expansion of the network is scheduled during 2021 and 2022 to include another 15 stations, giving a 110 station network, and serving to increase the evidential base required to inform the policy measures necessary to improve the quality of our air.
