Three-tier system proposed for air quality monitoring

Proposals to encourage local authorities to integrate their air quality monitoring activities with the national network operated by the Department of the Environment (DoE) were issued by the DoE on 2 November.¹ The move is intended to increase the flow of air quality information to the public and improve current monitoring standards. But critics believe that the costs involved would be too high for many local councils, so that even if some joined the national network the result would not reflect monitoring priorities.