New air quality monitoring stations to be installed in Galway City

Two new permanent air quality monitoring stations are to be installed in Eyre Square and Briarhill, where previous temporary monitors have indicated higher levels of pollution than elsewhere in the city.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in conjunction with Galway City Council will oversee the installation and monitor the readings from the machines over a 24-hour period.

The only other air quality station within the city boundaries is in Rahoon, but it is located away from the road and does not do round-the-clock measurements, according to Social Democrats Councillor Owen Hanley, who is a member of the Council’s Climate Action Monitoring Group.

“We’re lucky in Galway because we have the Atlantic wind that keeps pollution moving but the feeling is the air quality is not great because of traffic levels, but there’s no evidence to take action. This will allow us to get evidence and use that data to see if things like BusConnects improves the air quality,” he explained.

The EPA had previously installed 20 temporary air sampling units throughout the city and identified Eyre Square and Briarhill as two locations where continuous monitoring was required.

“In Eyre Square you have a lot of traffic and it’s where all the buses and coaches travel through. Briarhill is right beside Parkmore where there is a lot of commuter traffic and residents are concerned about the air quality as they’re wedged between Briarhill junction and the industrial estates.

“If there was even a three per cent modal shift from cars to buses that would have a huge impact on pollution and these stations will be able to monitor that,” said Cllr Hanley.

A spokesperson for Galway City Council said the station in Rahoon has recorded good air quality in the city since it was set up a few years ago. Under new regulations, councils have to notify the EPA if particulate matter exceed allowable levels 35 times in a year.

“In 2019 the result was zero and in 2020 the result was one, indicating the air quality is very good,” he stated.

“These new stations will create a baseline of information that wouldn’t have existed before across a whole lot of different measures, such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, lead, ozone.

“This will give us baseline information that can be watched and monitored for progress as the Galway Transportation Strategy is developed.”

The station in Eyre Square is to be located in the shrubbery opposite the Hardiman Hotel while the exact location for the Briarhill machine has yet to be finalised.

“Some site inspections were carried out recently with a view to final site determination. There are multiple issues with identifying a suitable location, including parking for service personnel, crash barrier, working width of crash barrier and having enough space to place unit behind it, supplying power and the civils works that would be required.”

Both stations are expected to be operational this year.

Cllr Hanley believes it’s a very positive move. “Air quality is something we cannot take for granted and is so vital to our health. There are significant negative affects associate with polluted air quality and I hope this is the beginning of higher standards for nearby residents,” he said.

Green Pary councillor Niall Murphy said that cleaner air is vital, and air pollution has improved by 20% since 2000, which he described as “small” over a 20-year period.

He suggested that new legislation – including the local ban on smoky coal being extended nationwide – will help.

“It is due to cleaner car engine designs and to the fact that Galway introduced a smoky coal ban in 2000.

“Galway traffic causes some of the pollution, but cars are not the only culprit. On calm cold winter evenings, the air gets dirtier because the fires are on and the wind is not dispersing it. The challenge is that while the smoky coal is banned in the city it does not stop someone buying it outside of Galway City. There is also the problem of people selling it door to door, which is illegal but difficult for the local council to enforce.

“The best way to get rid of smoky coal in Galway city is a nationwide ban, making it harder for individuals or door-to-door salesmen to get their hands on it. A ban on smoky fuel is in the Program for Government and a public consultation on the legislation was recently completed. Hopefully the legislation will be in place for next winter.

“There are concerns that the ban may push up the price of heating a home leading to more fuel poverty. This concern is based on the fact that smoky coal is cheaper per kilogram than smokeless coal. However, the smokeless fuel actually gives out more heat and so is actually better value for money. So the ban will benefit our lungs and our pockets,” said Cllr Murphy.