Air quality report sought by Green Party councillor for Clane, Kilcock and Maynooth

A councillor aligned with the Green Party sought a report from Kildare County Council (KCC) regarding air-quality in Maynooth, Kilcock and Clane.

Cllr Peter Hamilton made the request at the latest Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting held on Friday, March 3 last.

He specified that he wanted the report to have 'a particular focus' on: major traffic junctions, rush hour periods, and areas where significant solid fuel burning is taking place to provide an up-to-date and 'an accurate picture of the air quality risks in our towns.'

Labour Party Cllr Angela Feeney seconded his motion.

However, he was told by KCC at the meeting: "Currently the only monitors available to measure air quality are in Naas, Newbridge, Celbridge and Leixlip.

"There are no monitors in these other towns and the Environmental Protection Agency would have to be consulted with regard to their future plans to install monitors.

KCC added: "The Environmental Protection Agency maintain the data from these existing monitors and it is available to view on their website."

Cllr Hamilton was less than pleased with this response; he told senior engineer Chris Galvin of KCC’s environmental department: "I am kind of gobsmacked that we don’t know (this information for the MD).

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"The damage that diesel and solid fuel can cause is very significant," he said: "I remember being in Cork city before the coal ban, where you could chew the air around you."

He further claimed that more than a thousand deaths a year are linked to air pollution in Ireland.

Following his reply, Mr Galvin informed Cllr Hamilton that KCC’s response was actually from the Environmental Health Officer with the Health Service Executive.

However, he also stressed that KCC does have certain legislative powers to combat the illegal purchasing and/or transportation of certain fuel.

Mr Galvin also said: "Hopefully, the regulation will bear more fruit and the situation will improve. but it will likely take one or two more winters for the old stock (of solid fuel) to run out."