Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The ambient air quality monitoring programme in Ireland is carried out to meet the requirements of EU Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and the Cleaner Air For Europe Directive (also known as the CAFÉ Directive). The Directive requires that certain minimum levels of monitoring are conducted for the purpose of assessment and management of air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has responsibility for the monitoring of air quality in Ireland, and monitors a range of atmospheric pollutants based on data obtained from the 30 monitoring stations that form the national ambient air quality network.

The EPA also publishes an annual report on air quality, based primarily on the monitoring requirements of the CAFÉ Directive. The most recent report, Air Quality in Ireland 2012 – Key Indicators of Ambient Air Quality, was published in September 2013 and can be downloaded from the agency’s website: . This provides an assessment of air quality in Ireland for 2012, set against the CAFÉ Directive standards and, for the first time, against the more stringent World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines.

Downward trends have been identified for many pollutants and Ireland currently meets all EU standards for air quality but exceeds WHO air quality guidelines in respect of particulate matter. Particulate matter levels in Ireland can be of concern, particularly during the winter heating season, when people’s choice of fuel can impact directly on the air quality in their locality and can thus impact on health. To maintain our good standard of air quality and ensure that our air will be healthy and clean, Ireland must continue to implement and enforce the ban on bituminous (smoky) coal. Households and businesses can help by using more efficient methods to burn fuel and shift from solid fuel to cleaner alternatives, while also striving to reduce the demand for energy consumption.

Levels of nitrogen oxides (NO_X) at traffic-impacted city centre areas may also be a challenge in the future. Ireland is seeking to reduce traffic emissions through implementing policies to reduce travel demand, increase the use of alternatives to the private car such as cycling, walking, and public transport and improve the efficiencies of motorised transport.