Every two weeks from 10 January to 4 April, trained officers will take and analyse 588 samples from 98 measurement points around the country. According to a government statement published on Wednesday, the locations were selected by communes and staff have been trained for handling the samples and equipment.

The samples will then be processed and analysed at a laboratory. The first results will be assessed in a second phase, from 4 April to 12 December, to determine areas with high concentrations of NO2.  

It is expected that about 36 measurement points will be retained and 684 samples will be analysed during this phase.
The large-scale monitoring project is being organised by the environment administration in collaboration with 36 communes and myenergy. It forms part of the national air quality programme and the “Klimapakt Loftqualitéit”.

The campaign itself aims to raise awareness among communes and their inhabitants about air quality and to motivate communes to introduce measures to improve air quality. In future, it plans to create a model of NO2 hotspots and develop an air quality application.

Click here to view information on the permitted levels of NO2 within the EU.