EFFORTS to tackle poor air quality in Ennis must be intensified, a local representative has said.

At a recent meeting of Clare County Council’s Physical Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), it was agreed not to pursue a community or academic led air quality analysis of Ennis following a motion before the local authority by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG). He had sought a review for poor air causes in the county town.

In the middle of November, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed that over a period of seven days, Ennis along with Macroom, Tralee, Waterford and Letterkenny had the most particulate matter in the air. Particulate matter is said to be all solid and liquid particles suspended in air, such as dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets.

Ireland was above World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines for particulate matter (PM), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone at 52 monitoring sites across the country last year, the EPA said. Air pollution from traffic – nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – fell at all monitoring stations, but most notably at urban-traffic locations where levels fell by up to 50%, due to restrictions on movement over the course of Covid-19 lockdowns. Across the country, poor air quality is responsible for an estimated 1,300 premature deaths per year.

Addressing a recent SPC meeting, senior engineer with the Council, Cyril Feeney acknowledged that particulate matter and sulphur dioxide were “the concerns in Ennis”. He outlined, “We are well prepared, every change we make as individuals by switching to an electric vehicle and the smoky coal ban will help air quality in Ennis”.

Director of Service, Carmel Kirby noted that the motion suggested bringing in expertise or further data, “perhaps all the information is available from the EPA and there isn’t a need to do that,” she stated.

Feeney replied, “I think you’re right. The EPA are the agency tasked with air monitoring, they are tasked with that role. It is clear from what we know of Ennis, solid fuel burning is causing the pollution”.

Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) said she was content with this approach but disappointment was voiced by Cllr Flynn who cautioned that admissions to A&E were spiking following incidences of poor air quality in Ennis, “we might meet EU guidelines but not World Health Organisation guidelines”.

Advertisement

Related News

rineen ns 1
11 Clare schools removed from Hot School Meals scheme
green cross pharmacy killaloe
Two men arrested who drove into Garda car after series of burglaries in Killaloe & Roscrea
gerardine joe quinlivan 1
Springfield residents can sleep soundly as flooding nightmare ends
ambulance coast guard scariff 1
Bodyke hurler recovering after picking up head injury which forced abandonment of game vs Whitegate
Latest News
clonlara v crusheen 23-08-25 oisin o'brien breffni horner 1
'We left it behind us against The Bridge' - Crusheen reflect on latest championship crusade
green cross pharmacy killaloe
Two men arrested who drove into Garda car after series of burglaries in Killaloe & Roscrea
naomh eoin v liscannor 03-08-25 darren nagle 1
Liscannor extend life in intermediate ranks & send Ennistymon into relegation decider
gerardine joe quinlivan 1
Springfield residents can sleep soundly as flooding nightmare ends
st josephs miltown vs doonbeg 30-08-25 conor cleary darragh burns 1
Miltown down Doonbeg and march onto quarter-finals
Premium
kildysart v kilmihil 29-08-25 conall casey stan lineen 1
Kildysart produce extra time kick to seal senior status & leave Kilmihil in relegation final
feakle v newmarket-on-fergus 08-08-25 oisin donnellan 1
'Next man up' the focus in Feakle despite injury crisis
Shannon, Ireland, June
Shannon will not receive 15 extra Gardaí despite claims of Govt TDs
Springfield3
€5.2m Springfield flood relief scheme 'makes fear & devastation of flooding a thing of the past' in Clonlara
st josephs miltown v doonbeg 16-08-24 sean neylon eoghan killeen 1
Doonbeg & Miltown to battle it out for last remaining quarter-final spot

Advertisement

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.