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Air Quality

Ireland's air quality remains generally good. In this regard we are fortunate to be located on the fringe of Western Europe, with a relatively mild climate and to have an almost continuous movement of clean air over the country.

The "smog" problem which existed in the 1980s/early 1990s has now been eliminated primarily due to the ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal in certain urban areas.

However, it is now evident that, due mainly to the very significant increase of vehicles on our roads, emissions from the transport sector represent the greatest threat to our air quality.

Measures which help reduce congestion, promote fuel efficiency and the ongoing investment in public transport are of major assistance in addressing any potential air quality problems in the future.

Measures introduced, and proposed, in the areas of:

  • vehicle standards,
  • fuel efficiency in vehicles,
  • modal shift (LUAS, DART, quality bus corridors (QBCs), cycle lanes, etc.),
  • demand management (large infrastructural projects such as the M50 upgrade, the Dublin Port Tunnel, various town by-passes and general measures to help relieve traffic congestion etc.),
  • restructuring of vehicle registration tax (VRT) and motor tax in favour of more fuel-efficient cars, and
  • excise relief on biofuels

will assist in maintaining our high standards of air quality.


Further Information


If you require further information please contact: 

Environmental Compliance and Air Quality Section,
Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government,
Newtown Rd,
Wexford.

Telephone +353 (0)53 911 7358
Fax.          +353 (0)53 911 7603

E-mail: airquality@environ.ie

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