Councillor Conor D. McGuinness has welcomed confirmation that the EPA has begun monitoring Dungarvan’s air quality. The Sinn Féin representative had lobbied extensively for Dungarvan to be added to the EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (AAMP) earlier this year.
McGuinness said:
“Air quality monitoring by the EPA has recently begun in Dungarvan and results can be viewed in real time on the EPA website www.epa.ie/air/quality. Waterford City and County Council is working with the EPA on the initiative. The Dungarvan site will monitor a range or important air quality parameters including particulates, heavy metals, and gases such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide.
“Air quality monitoring is being supported and augmented by increased modelling and forecasting capability, with the aim of developing a comprehensive air quality forecast to the public. Air quality can be a significant public health concern in built up areas, and this programme allows us to identify problem areas and patterns and work to address these. We all deserve a clean and safe environment and this must include the air we breathe.
“The National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme has run since 2017. I have been campaigning to have Dungarvan included in the programme for some time, and I am delighted that monitoring has now begun.
Cllr. Conor D. McGuinness 