NI council challenges 2028 clean air deadline amid concerns over cost to ratepayers
Wednesday 16 September 2026
A Northern Ireland council has “strongly disagreed” with the proposed timetable for tougher air pollution limits, while councillors have raised concerns that additional costs could ultimately fall on ratepayers.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s Environment and Sustainability Committee has considered its response to a Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) consultation on plans to tighten legal limits for harmful particulate matter.
The debate comes against the backdrop of research estimating that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, was associated with a mortality burden equivalent to 936 deaths in Northern Ireland in 2019.
Tougher pollution limits proposed
DAERA consulted on draft regulations that would significantly tighten Northern Ireland’s annual average limits for PM2.5 and PM10 — microscopic particles in the air that can penetrate the lungs, with the smallest particles able to enter the bloodstream.
Under the proposals, the annual average PM2.5 limit would fall from 25 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) to 10 µg/m³, while the PM10 limit would be halved from 40 µg/m³ to 20 µg/m³. A separate PM2.5 target would be set at 8 µg/m³.
The proposed limits are intended to be met by 1 January 2028 and would align with Interim Target 4 of the World Health Organisation’s 2021 Air Quality Guidelines.
However, the council’s consultation response strongly disagreed with the proposed compliance date.
Castlereagh South Alliance councillor Martin McKeever said:
“I note that we have responded that we strongly disagreed with the compliance date.
“Can this be explained as to why?”
Concerns over costs for councils
Lisburn North SDLP councillor Pat Catney questioned the potential financial implications for local government.
He said:
“I have to say it seems like a backhanded way for the department on the finances side.
“For all of these consultations, they tend to be left open in a way and these costs are going to fall upon the ratepayers.
“That’s my reading of this, that they can pass this on to individual councils.”
The council report states that DAERA currently covers the cost of sampling equipment but warns additional resources could be required if more monitoring locations are needed.
It states:
“At present DAERA covers the cost of all sampling equipment so it is anticipated that there may be further resources required if extra sampling locations are required.”
‘We all want clean fresh air’
Lisburn South DUP councillor Alan Givan highlighted the potential health impact of air pollution while questioning what tighter regulations could mean for households and motorists.
He said:
“We all want clean fresh air and I was surprised to actually read that 936 people in Northern Ireland die every year as a result of dirty air.
“I think the ordinary person on the street who is not briefed on all the scientific data they are wondering if we will still be able to light our wood burning stove or drive our economically clean car that’s not electric?”
The figure referenced during the meeting comes from research published in 2023 examining the estimated mortality burden associated with PM2.5 exposure. It estimated that exposure in Northern Ireland in 2019 was associated with an all-cause mortality burden equivalent to 936 deaths. The figure should not be interpreted as 936 individual death certificates recording air pollution as the cause of death.
The same research estimated the figure for Lisburn and Castlereagh at 79 deaths, based on 2019 data.
Council questions 2028 deadline
Explaining the council’s objection to the timetable, an officer told members:
“So, we have responded that we strongly disagree with the compliance date of January 2028.
“We don’t believe it is a realistic time-frame for that to be implemented.
“Air doesn’t stop at a council boundary, we have our own air monitoring station in Dundonald with the main source of pollution from traffic.
“Each council already has to submit an annual report on air quality.”
DAERA’s proposals followed evidence showing that Northern Ireland’s existing statutory particulate limits are considerably less stringent than those now proposed. Departmental material also shows that all monitored PM10 and PM2.5 sites met the proposed tighter limits in 2024, although monitoring coverage remains limited.
The department has said tighter limits are intended to reduce particulate pollution across Northern Ireland and improve protection for human health.
Separately, DAERA is currently consulting on a wider Clean Air Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2032, which includes proposals around monitoring, public awareness, transport planning and tighter fuel and appliance standards. That consultation closes on 27 October 2026.
