Monitoring & Assessment: Air Publications

Air Quality in Ireland 2024

Summary: 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. We need to do more to protect our clean air in towns and cities across Ireland.

Published: 2025

ISBN: 978-1-80009-280-8

Pages: 12

Filesize: 1,728 KB

Format: pdf

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We need to do more to protect clean air in towns and cities across Ireland

• 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 annual air quality report, Air Quality in Ireland 2024, 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.

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.