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Role and Legislation
The principal national legislation for the prevention and control of air pollution is the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (No. 6 of 1987). This act provides a comprehensive statutory framework for the control of air quality.
The text of Irish Legislation can be viewed online in the Irish Statute Book available on the Attorney Generals website @ http://www.irlgov.ie/ag/default.htm
Air Pollution Licences
Local Authorities are empowered under this legislation to licence certain classes of activities. Activities qualifying for an Air Pollution Licence are as listed in Schedule 3 of the 1987 Air Pollution Act.
Statutory Notices
Section 26 of the Air Pollution Act 1987, allows Local Authorities to issue statutory Notices requiring “measures to be taken to prevent or limit air pollution”.
Duty not to cause an air pollution nuisance
Section 24 (2) of the 1987 Air Pollution Act states “The occupier of any premises shall not cause or permit an emission from such premises in such a quantity, or in such a manner, as to be a nuisance”.
Air Complaints
Air complaints reported to Limerick County Council tend to be related to the nuisance value of odours, whether from commercial properties, agricultural activities (e.g. landspreading of slurries), or smoke from the open burning of wastes (i.e. backyard burning of wastes).
Burning of Wastes
Limerick County Council expressly prohibits the open burning of commercial / domestic waste, and will act to prevent this occurrence when reported. Proper refuse disposal is via appropriate recycling, composting or refuse collection service, or other licensed / permitted waste disposal facility.
Odours from Landspreading
Limerick County Council acknowledges that landspreading of agricultural slurries is a normal part of agricultural practices, and that some level of odour can be expected from slurry spreading.
All slurry spreading should be carried out in accordance with good practice guidelines as issued by Teagasc, the EPA, and or the Department of Agriculture.
Air Quality in County Limerick
The principal causes of concern regarding air quality are monitored through a series of networks covering the country and operated by the Local Authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency. The monitoring mainly covers air analysis for:
- Smoke
- PM10
- Sulphur Dioxide
- Nitrogen Oxides
- Lead
- Ground Level Ozone
- Carbon Monoxide
- Benzene
Historically in County Limerick the principal air pollution issue was the quality of the air in the City Environs. A primary factor relating to Air Quality in the City Environs was the use of “smoky fuels”. Limerick City and Environs was designated a smoke free zone under the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Marketing Sale and Distribution of Fuels) Regulations 1998. This meant that only smokeless fuels were allowed to be sold. This has led to a noticeable improvement in Air Quality in the City and Environs.
The abolition of the sale of leaded petrol, has also seen the levels of airborne lead fall to low levels, well inside permitted levels.
There are currently no air monitoring stations in County Limerick operated by the County Council. There are a number of stations monitored by the Limerick City Council in the Limerick City area.
The EPA - Environmental Protection Agency compiles national information on National Air Quality Monitoring, producing an Annual Report on same. More information is available at www.epa.ie
Further information re air quality in general in Ireland is available at www.environ.ie (Department of the Environment) and www.enfo.ie (Government Environmental Information Service).
The following link will take you to the Reach Agency website where you can download the Air Emissions Licence Application Form
If you wish to make a complaint about air pollution please contact environ@limerickcoco.ie
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