[ Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028, Section 15(2) Two-Year Progress Report ]
Cork City Council have completed, or agreed to undertake, the following:
• Exploration of the solar potential on a variety of Cork City Council buildings . Audits have been completed on Tory Top Library, Leisureworld Bishopstown, Cork City Archives, Hollyhill Library and Glanmire Library, to name a few. • Undertake the further decarbonisation of the Cork City Council fleet of vehicles . • Cork City Council will explore further opportunities involving solar PV and the utilisation of assets for further decarbonisation opportunities.
[OBJECTIVE 9.18] AIR QUALITY
The Cork City Air Quality Strategy 2021-2026 was launched on 12th August 2021. The Air Quality Strategy outlines the actions that the Council will take to reduce the concentrations of air pollutants in the city thereby positively impacting on the quality of life of residents and visitors. These actions, which are grouped under seven core themes, include the expansion of walking and cycling routes, increasing access to public transport and developing green infrastructure and nature-based solutions. In 2023 Cork City Council launched its first ever Annual Air Quality Report. The report covers the year 2022 and outlines the actions taken by the Council to improve air quality and expand air pollution monitoring systems. The report found that air quality in Cork City is generally good but deteriorates during winter months and at heavy traffic points. Air monitoring carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Cork City Council (CCC) in 2022 revealed that air pollution is within the current EU legal limits. It is anticipated that the second Annual Air Quality Report for the year 2023 will be released in May 2024. The SEA Interim Monitoring Report in Appendix 1 addresses air quality in further detail. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) manage a nationwide air quality monitoring network which is used for national and EU regulatory reporting purposes. EPA monitoring stations in Cork City are located at the South Link Road, Heatherton Park, University College Cork (UCC), Munster Technological University (MTU) and the Lower Glanmire Road. In addition to the EPA monitoring network, Cork City Council developed Ireland’s first citywide network of Particulate Matter (PM2.5) sensors together with the Centre for Research into Atmospheric Chemistry at University College Cork. The PM2.5 sensor network provides a cost-effective method for displaying real-time indicative information about air quality in different areas of the city. The list of stations located throughout the city are as follows:
Ballincollig
•
City Centre, Grattan Street
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Ballinlough
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Fitzgerald’s Park
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Ballyphehane
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Glanmire
•
Blackpool
•
Lifetime Lab
•
Blackrock Castle
•
Mayfield
•
Blarney
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