Cork County Council looks set to become the first local authority in the country to pursue this goal in response to a recent study carried out by a University College Cork professor.

The move comes after councillors expressed concerns about the lack of information they had on air quality in the region and more importantly about a recent deterioration noted at a monitoring station in Cobh.

Scientists at University College Cork (UCC) have selected five iconic images which will catch your eye and show just how severe air pollution has become in recent years.

A new facility in Cork is set to take the most detailed measurements yet of air pollution, which scientists say is responsible for more than 1,500 premature deaths in Ireland every year.

Just because the pictures from New Delhi are more shocking and obvious, it doesn’t mean Ireland’s air is actually clean. We must act now, write John Sodeau and John Wenger.            

Errant car manufacturer Volkswagen could face corporate manslaughter charges in the United States if its deliberate rigging of vehicle emission tests can be linked to pollution deaths by road users there.