The worst air quality in Ireland has been recorded in Ennis throughout much of this week.
The Environmental Protection Agency has recorded a spike in pollutants over the past three nights, to levels which could impact on people’s health.
It’s led to calls for a warning system to be put in place for residents.
Data from the EPA’s monitoring station in Ennis shows the levels of Sulphur Dioxide and particulates in the air increased by more than five times, particularly in the evening time, on the colder evenings between Tuesday and last night.
Ennis has always been on the EPA’s watch list in terms of air quality, but this latest data singles out Clare’s County Town as having the worst air quality in the country.
The dominant source of this is likely domestic solid fuel burning, and the data suggests that people could still be burning smoky coal in the town, despite a ban in place in Ennis for a number of years now.
EPA Scientist Patrick Kenny says that while these levels of air pollutants are within EU limits, it can have serious consequences for people’s health.
A former Green Party Councillor for the town says levels of air pollutants this week have been so high at times that it means, according to guidelines, people shouldn’t be engaging in strenuous activity while outdoors, such as jogging.
Brian Meaney says a system of warning needs to be put in place so that people are told directly when there is a problem.
