SEA Environmental Report for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
4.10.4 Noise Cork City Council and Cork County Council have prepared a Noise Action Plan 2018-2023 in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Noise Regulations 2006. The purpose of the Noise Action Plan is to avoid, prevent and reduce, on a prioritised basis the harmful effects, including annoyance due to the long-term exposure to environmental noise. 4.10.5 Existing Problems Legislative objectives governing air and climatic factors in Cork City were not identified as being conflicted with. 4.11 Material Assets Other material assets, in addition to those detailed below, covered by the SEA include archaeological and architectural heritage (see Section 4.12) natural resources of economic value, such as water and air (see Sections 4.9 and 4.10). 4.11.1 Public Assets and Infrastructure Public assets and infrastructure that have the potential to be impacted upon by the Plan, if unmitigated, include; settlements; resources such as public open spaces, parks and recreational areas; public buildings and services; transport and utility infrastructure (electricity, gas, telecommunications, water supply, wastewater infrastructure etc.); forestry; and natural resources that are covered under other topics such as water and soil. 4.11.2 Green Infrastructure Parks and open space promote health and well- being, provide recreational facilities and range of habitats for various species. Green infrastructure is also a crucial component in building resilient communities capable of adapting to the consequences of climate change with trees, woodlands and wetlands providing carbon capture and slowing water flows while improving air quality.
generation and industry and, in sufficient amounts, could affect the well-being of the areas inhabitants. The EU Directives include details regarding how ambient air quality should be monitored, assessed and managed. The principles to this European approach are set out in the Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive (2008/50/EC) (which replaces the earlier Air Quality Framework Directive 1996 and the first, second and third Daughter Directives ; the fourth Daughter Directive will be included in CAFE at a later stage). In order to comply with the directives mentioned above, the EPA measures the levels of a number of atmospheric pollutants. For the purposes of monitoring in Ireland, four zones are defined in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 271 of 2002). The EPA’s (2020) Air Quality in Ireland 2019 identifies that:
Air quality in Ireland is generally good however there are localised issues; Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) from transport emissions is polluting urban areas; and Ireland was above World Health Organization air quality guideline value levels at 33 monitoring sites – mostly due to the burning of solid fuel within settlements across the country.
Problem pollutants identified by the EPA include particulate matter from burning of solid fuel and nitrogen dioxide from transport emissions in urban areas. Indications that Ireland will exceed EU limit values for nitrogen dioxide in the near future. With regards to solutions, the report identifies that:
To tackle the problem of particulate matter, clean ways of heating homes and improve energy efficiency of homes can be progressed; and To reduce the impact of nitrogen dioxide, transport options in the Government’s Climate Action Plan can be implemented and transport choices can be considered by individuals.
In order to apply with European Directives relating to air quality, the EPA manages the National Ambient Air Quality Network and measures the levels of a number of atmospheric pollutants at locations across the country. The current 49 air quality within the City is identified by the EPA as being good .
49 27/04/2021 (http://www.epa.ie/air/quality/)
CAAS for Cork City Council
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