Carrigaline schools to join air quality monitoring project as new pollution monitor installed

New monitoring equipment and a proposed schools programme aim to boost air quality awareness in Carrigaline

An air pollution monitor that was out of service for an extended period in Carrigaline has been replaced with a new, more modern unit in the town park. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Plans are being advanced to get schoolchildren involved in air quality monitoring in Co Cork’s largest town.

An air pollution monitor that was out of service for an extended period in Carrigaline has been replaced with a new, more modern unit in the town park.

A senior county council official has disclosed that the local authority plans to collaborate with schools on a new pollution project in the area.

Ger Barry, head of the council’s planning and environment directorate, said that, under an initiative aligned with the local authority’s environmental work programme, the council’s air quality unit has engaged with local primary schools in Carrigaline.

“A mini-schools project is now being discussed using low-cost equipment to assess air quality at traffic congested areas, to raise awareness of air quality among the school children,” Mr Barry said.

He provided the update to Fianna Fáil councillor Audrey Buckley, who asked if the council could “pilot an environmental and public health initiative in Carrigaline to improve air quality and support active travel through enhanced monitoring, traffic management, and collaboration with relevant agencies and educational institutions.”

“This could turn the monitor from just a piece of equipment into a real learning and awareness tool for Carrigaline. It could become a really useful community education and science project, especially for schools, youth groups and local organisations,” Ms Buckley said.

She suggested that schools could compare air quality readings at different times of the day — such as school drop-off times, rush hour and weekends — and discuss why levels change. 

Students could also use live monitor data for classroom science, geography and maths projects, graphing trends and learning about pollution, weather and health.

Ms Buckley said pupils could also examine the link between air quality, active travel and reducing car idling outside schools.

In addition, she said schoolchildren could explore how planting trees and hedgerows helps improve air quality and supports pollinators, while Transition Year projects could focus on awareness campaigns or presentations on local air quality.

“The information could also be used to by citizen science volunteers to track links between traffic, weather and air quality readings and by sports clubs to understand best (least polluted) times for outdoor activity.

Other councillors representing the Carrigaline Municipal District area welcomed the proposal.

It was also disclosed that Munster Technological University (MTU) had contacted the county council about air quality monitoring in Carrigaline, and the local authority is exploring further collaboration with the institution.