Councillors in Dublin have agreed a motion calling for the introduction of ultra-low emission zones.

These ultra-low emission zones are based on the World Health Organisation guidelines for air quality.

The motion was tabled by Dublin City Social Democrats Councillor Cat O’Driscoll who told Newstalk Breakfast that the Council still “haven’t got to the stage of how this motion will be implemented yet”.

“What I'm seeking is that we look at where we believe the cleanest air should be, so ultra-low emission zones could also be called ‘Clean Air Zones’,” she said.

“Often we think of the city centre, where we have a very successful city transport plan, we're not really thinking about where the most vulnerable lungs in Dublin City are spending their time - these might be children at school creche or senior citizens.

“We need to rethink where we measure our air quality and where we put the concentrated efforts in to improve it.”

School concerns

Councillor O’Driscoll said she believes these ultra-low emission zones should start with schools.

“I pass schools across my constituency regularly and cars are idling outside as anxious parents or guardians are waiting to pick up their children,” she said.

“We are pumping pollution into the air that our children are going to breathe as they leave their school.

“These kind of activities need to stop.”

"Changing behaviour"

Councillor O’Driscoll said the Council may need to look at enforcement or “national legislation” but she is more keen to educate.

“There's two ways of changing behaviour,” she said.

“We can legislate and make it really difficult to do, or we can educate and I would be much more focused on the second.

“I've heard this from school groups [and] from school children in places like Broombridge Educate Together, who talk about their desire to improve the environment around them.”

Chronic illness

These zones are also vital for those who are chronically ill, Councillor O’Driscoll said.

“I'm an asthma sufferer since childhood, I take medication every day to manage it, I also alter my behaviour to manage it,” she said.

“Last Wednesday, Met Éireann put out a warning for fog, and that, to me, is danger because fog holds pollutants in the air and whether that pollutant is coming from the environment or from cars or from burning fuels that's going to trigger my asthma - so I'm extra careful.

“On those days, anyone with a chronic illness will know you edit your behaviour to make sure you stay as well as possible.

“What I'm looking at is the things in the city that are causing the worst air pollution and cars are up there as well as burning fuels.

The Councillor emphasised that something is "not working properly" and "cars are definitely one of the biggest impacts on air pollution".

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Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone sign in London. Image: Alamy