The principal national legislation for the prevention and control of air pollution is the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (No. 6 of 1987). This act provides a comprehensive statutory framework for the control of air quality.
The text of Irish Legislation can be viewed online in the Irish Statute Book available on the Attorney Generals website @ http://www.irlgov.ie
Local Authorities are empowered under this legislation to licence certain classes of activities. Activities qualifying for an Air Pollution Licence are as listed in Schedule 3 of the 1987 Air Pollution Act.
Section 26 of the Air Pollution Act 1987, allows Local Authorities to issue statutory Notices requiring “measures to be taken to prevent or limit air pollution”.
Section 24 (2) of the 1987 Air Pollution Act states “The occupier of any premises shall not cause or permit an emission from such premises in such a quantity, or in such a manner, as to be a nuisance”.
Air complaints reported to North Tipperary County Council tend to be related to the nuisance value of odours, whether from commercial properties, agricultural activities (e.g. landspreading of slurries), or smoke from the open burning of wastes (i.e. backyard burning of wastes).
North Tipperary County Council expressly prohibits the open burning of commercial / domestic waste, and will act to prevent this occurrence when reported. Proper refuse disposal is via appropriate recycling, composting or refuse collection service, or other licensed / permitted waste disposal facility.
North Tipperary County Council acknowledges that landspreading of agricultural slurries is a normal part of agricultural practices, and that some level of odour can be expected from slurry spreading.
All slurry spreading should be carried out in accordance with good practice guidelines as issued by Teagasc, the EPA, and or the Department of Agriculture.
The EPA - Environmental Protection Agency compiles national information on National Air Quality Monitoring, producing an Annual Report on same. More information is available at www.epa.ie
Further information re air quality in general in Ireland is available at www.environ.ie. If you wish to make a complaint about air pollution please contact environment@tipperarynorth.ie