‘We need to do more to protect clean air in towns, villages and cities across Ireland’ says EPA

Date released: September 24, 2025

• Air quality in Ireland is generally good and was compliant with 2024 air quality standards, meeting all EU legal requirements.
• It will be more challenging for Ireland to meet new and more stringent air quality limits that will come into force from 2030.
• Clean air is essential for our health​. Around 1,700 premature deaths occur in Ireland each year because of poor air quality.​

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its report, Air Quality in Ireland 2024, which is based on data from Ireland’s extensive air monitoring network of 115 stations. It reveals that while Ireland currently meets EU air quality standards, we are projected to fall short of the stricter air quality standards set for 2030 under the new Ambient Air Quality Directive. 

The new EU Directive, part of the Zero Pollution Action Plan, aims to reduce premature deaths from air pollution by 55 per cent by 2030. Ireland faces significant challenges in meeting these targets, with projected compliance levels of only 93 per cent for fine particulates (PM_2.5) and 78 per cent for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).  Ireland also continues to fall well short of achieving the more stringent World Health Organization (WHO) health-based 2040 guidelines for several key pollutants. 

The primary sources of air pollution in Ireland are solid fuel burning and traffic emissions.  The European Environment Agency estimates that in Ireland, more than 1,700 premature deaths annually are attributable to air pollution, with links to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, dementia, type 2 diabetes and neonatal mortality. Vulnerable groups, including children and older adults, are particularly at risk.

Pat Byrne, Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring, stated:

“Many of us have grown up with the comfort of an open fire and limited alternatives to travelling by car—but these familiar habits contribute to poor air quality. Supporting people to shift towards cleaner heating and more sustainable travel isn’t about giving something up—it’s about gaining healthier air and healthier lives.”

Air pollution in Ireland is not confined to cities ­— towns and villages are also affected.  The EPA website www.airquality.ie provides hourly-updated information on air quality and a 3-day air quality forecast. Having these online tools can help us make choices to protect our health during periods of poor air quality. 

Roni Hawe, EPA Programme Manager for Environmental Monitoring and Surveillance, added:

“Ireland is facing considerable challenges in its efforts to meet the more stringent air quality standards set for 2030, as well as the World Health Organization targets for 2040. Achieving these goals will require a decisive shift away from solid fuel burning, alongside the adoption of electric vehicles, efforts to reduce traffic and encouraging the use of public transport.”

To find out more about how we can improve air quality read the EPA’s How we can improve the air we breathe infographic or check out the Government of Ireland Clean Air publication, which highlights some simple steps we can all make and help reduce pollution from solid fuels.

The Air Quality in Ireland 2024 report is available on the EPA website.

Contact:
Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations

Phone: 053-91 70770 (24 hours) Email: media@epa.ie

Notes to Editor

Ambient air pollution: Ambient (outdoor) air pollution is recognised as a major environmental risk to health internationally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ambient air pollution accounted for an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths in 2019 worldwide due to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma. In children and adults, both short-term and long-term exposure to ambient air pollution can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections and aggravated asthma. Read more on the WHO website. 

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has estimated that there are approximately 1,700 premature deaths annually in Ireland due to poor air quality from fine particulate matter (PM2.5). See Europe's Air Quality Status 2024

National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme: The EPA, working with local authorities and other public bodies, has established 115 air monitoring stations.  Monitoring data from these stations is available in real time on the website airquality.ie and the data is used to inform national policy and meet Ireland’s commitments to European reporting. 

The EPA continually monitors air quality across Ireland and provides the air quality index for health and real-time results online. Results are updated hourly on the website, and people can log on at any time to check whether the current air quality is good, fair or poor. 

Key Pollutants and Sources:

• PM2.5 (Fine Particulate Matter): These microscopic particles, primarily from solid fuel burning in homes, can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing serious health issues. Cities, towns and villages are especially affected.
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂): Mainly from diesel and petrol vehicles, NO₂ harms respiratory and cardiovascular health and contributes to acid rain and ozone formation.

Online Air Quality Forecasting

Models with daily forecasts, updated hourly and annual high-resolution maps for Ireland are available on the dedicated website to enable the public to make more informed health related decisions on a daily basis.  The models fill in gaps between monitoring stations.  The models and tools were developed through LIFE Emerald, a four-year, EU – Irish government funded forecasting and modelling project, completed in 2024.

The EPA is also supporting citizen science projects such as the GLOBE project and Clean Air Together (CAT). This is done to create a better understanding of NO₂ air pollution. After successful campaigns in Dublin and then Cork in 2022, Clean Air Together moved to Galway for 2023 and Limerick for 2024.  Clean Air Together 2025 is underway in Waterford City.  See Clean Air Together.