It’s claimed the way in which air quality is monitored in Clare isn’t in line with World Health Organisation standards.
Following a number of recent spikes in the level of particulate matter detected in the county town, local representatives are railing against the “silent killer” that is poor air quality.
As is traditionally the case during cold weather when more homes and businesses are burning fuels, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Monitor showed Clare and Ennis in particular to have poor air quality last week.
There are two air quality monitoring stations in Clare; one in Ennis and one in Ennistymon, and both measure the level of particulate matter, which is typically made up of dust, soot and smoke, in the air.
The limit specified by regulations is deemed to be breached if there are more than 35 exceedances over a 24-hour period during the entire year and last year, there were just seven exceedances in total – down 36% from 2023.
This week’s Ennis Municipal District meeting has heard Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard calls for more air quality monitors in the Ennis area, a clean air strategy for the town to be developed and a crackdown on the sale of smoky coal.
Councillor Howard says for people with respiratory problems, one exceedance is too many and she claims action is needed to bring an end to the sale of harmful fuels.
Clarecastle Councillor Tom O’Callaghan tabled a similar motion at this week’s meeting of Clare County Council asking the local authority what measures are in place aimed at improving air quality in the county’s towns and villages.
Clare County Council’s response states its Environment Section has informed retailers of their obligations not to sell illegal fuels like smoky coal and that it has carried out 147 on-site retailer inspections.
It’s also noted that a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy has been adopted while a Climate Action Plan for 2024 to 2029 is currently in the works.
Councillor O’Callaghan says poor air quality is a “silent killer” and its having devastating effects on particularly compromised residents of the county.
Listen to the full interview with Cllrs Mary Howard and Tom O’Callaghan here