Continued Progress Needed to Achieve Stricter 2030 Limits.
- Air quality in Ireland is good, meeting air quality limits for 2025 and with pollutants decreasing over the last 20 years.
- When air pollution occurs, it causes significant health impacts. Despite meeting EU air quality limits, there are around 1,500 premature deaths a year linked to air pollution.
- Local authorities continue to play a key role in maintaining and supporting cleaner air including enforcing compliance with solid fuel regulations which ban the sale of smoky fuels, promoting retrofitting and delivering active travel infrastructure for communities.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its report:
Air Quality in Ireland 2025, which is based on data from Ireland’s extensive air monitoring network of 113 stations, reveals that air quality in Ireland is good, it currently meets EU air quality limits and highlights how pollutants have decreased over
the last twenty years. This benefits people’s health and the environment.
Continued progress in implementing measures such as the enforcement of solid fuel regulations which ban the sale of smoky fuels, promotion of home retrofitting, support for active travel, and public awareness initiatives will enable Ireland to further improve
air quality and meet the stricter 2030 EU Requirements.
Air pollution in Ireland is not confined to larger cities. Communities in towns and villages can also be negatively affected by pollutants from solid fuel burning and traffic emissions. The EPA website provides hourly real-time information on local air quality and the new Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) links general health advice to monitored air quality. This valuable resource informs citizens on the steps they can take to protect their health during periods of poor air quality.
Despite Ireland’s relatively good air quality, air pollution from solid fuel burning and traffic emissions still causes significant health impacts. The European Environment Agency estimates that, in Ireland, about 1,500 premature deaths annually are attributable to air pollution. To deliver cleaner air and improved public health, Government support for infrastructure, household measures such as cleaner heating and home retrofit grants, and enforcement activities must be maintained and strengthened.
Mr Pat Byrne, Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring, stated: “Continued improvement in air quality is possible with practical local action and sustained investment in supporting cleaner heating, promoting home energy retrofitting, improving public transport and encouraging active travel. By focusing support on communities most affected by air pollution, we can reduce health risks, improve quality of life and ensure healthier futures for those communities.”
Local authorities play a vital role in improving air quality through the enforcement of solid fuel regulations, promoting home retrofitting, promotion of active travel, and public awareness initiatives.
Mr Warren Phelan, EPA Programme Manager for Environmental Monitoring and Surveillance, added: “Clean air is essential for good health, and Ireland’s air quality is generally good. Continued progress will require commitment from government, local authorities, businesses and communities to protect and further improve the air we breathe. By working together,
we can reduce exposure to air pollution, improve quality of life, and create healthier places to live and work.”
The Air Quality in Ireland 2025 report is available Here on the EPA website.
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