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Air Quality

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022

Tuesday, 17 May 2022

Ceisteanna (181, 195)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

181. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of enforcement notices and prosecutions as reported to the Environmental Protection Agency by local authorities in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022 under the smoky coal ban regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24268/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

195. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of staff allocated in each local authority to ensure compliance with solid fuel regulations in each local authority since 2018; the number of inspections carried out by each local authority in each of the years since 2018; the nature of the enforcement taken; the number of fuel samples collected and analysed for each local authority in each such year; if they complied with the regulations; if each local authority has reported annually to the Environmental Protection Authority as required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24877/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 195 together.

Enforcement action against breaches of the Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012 is a matter for Local Authorities.

Local Authorities are themselves responsible for allocating the appropriate staffing resources and finances to ensure they can fulfil all their air quality enforcement obligations, and they do not report to my Department in this regard.

Similarly, my Department does not compile statistics in relation to number of complaints received, samples analysed, prosecutions taken or fines imposed. Local Authorities report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annually regarding enforcement activities under environmental legislation.

Details of Local Authority enforcement of environmental legislation are available from the series of Local Authority Environmental Performance Assessment reports compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency and can be accessed at: www.epa.ie/our-services/compliance--enforcement/support-and-supervision-of-local-councils/la-performance/.

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