Summary: Details on the planned implementation of the 'National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme' (AAMP), including an expansion of the national monitoring network, increased modelling and forecasting capability and citizen engagement and citizen science initiatives.
National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme
The new National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (AAMP) will involve a greatly expanded national monitoring network providing enhanced real-time information to the public, supplemented by an additional increased local authority capacity to conduct local monitoring. The network will be supported and augmented by increased modelling and forecasting capability, with the aim of providing an ongoing air quality forecast to the public. Supporting both of these elements will be citizen engagement and citizen science initiatives to encourage greater understanding and involvement of the public in air quality issues. The national ambient air quality monitoring programme is built around three key pillars:
A new national monitoring network will be established which will provide improved spatial coverage across rural and urban centres. The siting of the stations is based on the criteria of population size, vulnerability to air quality issues and spatial distribution. The network of sites will monitor a range of important air quality parameters including particulates, heavy metals, inorganic and organic gases.
There is an increasing awareness of the need for Ireland to develop its capacity and capability in ambient air quality modelling. The programme aims to provide, on a phased basis, the following modelling capability:
Air quality related citizen engagement and citizen science will be progressed to raise awareness and understanding of air quality issues and encourage individual participation in improving air quality.
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