The Government has approved a major overhaul of Ireland’s air quality legislation, strengthening enforcement powers to crack down on the sale and supply of harmful solid fuels.

The Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025, approved at Cabinet today, aims to reduce the country’s high rate of air pollution-related deaths and deliver on commitments set out in the Clean Air Strategy.

The new legislation will give local authorities faster and more flexible powers to tackle illegal fuel sales, which remain one of the biggest threats to air quality in urban and rural areas alike. The changes, while tough on non-compliant fuel suppliers, do not impact existing household rules or the burning of turf by individuals for personal use.

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien said the move is about protecting public health and ensuring that air quality continues to improve across the country. In 2022, an estimated 1,700 premature deaths in Ireland were linked to air pollution, a figure the Government is determined to reduce through stronger legislation and on-the-ground action.

O’Brien described the bill as a vital next step in implementing the Clean Air Strategy. He said it will allow for more proportionate, timely enforcement by local councils, empowering them to act quickly against breaches without being tied up in lengthy legal procedures. He also confirmed that the second progress report of the Clean Air Strategy was presented to Government last week, detailing a series of positive developments across multiple sectors.

Among these is the launch of a pilot project involving selected local authorities, supported by €500,000 in Government funding, which focuses on tackling pollution from transport and solid fuel use. Public awareness has also been given a boost through new educational materials developed by the Irish Heart Foundation, aimed at highlighting the health risks associated with poor air quality and supported by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.

Cork City Council, working with the Department, has launched a new website — www.cleanair.ie — offering practical information on the sources of air pollution, their health impacts, and what individuals and communities can do to reduce them. Meanwhile, on the agricultural front, the report confirms that Ireland met its ammonia emission reduction targets under the National Emissions Ceiling Directive in 2023, following a national decrease in nitrogen fertiliser use and a wider shift toward low-emission slurry spreading.

The Minister said that the collective progress under the Clean Air Strategy demonstrates that targeted, well-supported actions can lead to measurable improvements. However, he warned that continued momentum is essential if Ireland is to bring air pollution levels down and save lives.

The Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill will now move through the Oireachtas, with the Department pledging ongoing collaboration with local authorities and public health bodies to implement the legislation and deliver cleaner air for all communities.

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