€6.5million PEACE-Air project launched at ATU Donegal in Letterkenny

The PEACE-Air (Partnership for Evidence and Action on Clean Air) project has been launched at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal, marking the beginning of a major cross-border initiative supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

The event brought together partners, policymakers, and community representatives from across the island to initiate an ambitious programme aimed at improving air quality and strengthening cooperation across the island.

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The launch included a speech by Jack Chambers TD, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and a video message from Finance Minister John O’Dowd MLA. Gina McIntyre, CEO of SEUPB, spoke at the launch and emphasised the importance of addressing air pollution through coordinated, evidence-based action.

Guest speakers included Dr Maria Neira, former Director of the Department of Public Health and Environment at the World Health Organisation, and Joseph Carter, Head of Devolved Nations for Asthma and Lung UK, Northern Ireland.

Representing the PEACE-Air consortium, project partners Professor Pat Goodman (Technological University Dublin) and Dr Jenny Mack (All Island Institute of Public Health), together with Professor John Wenger (University College Cork), highlighted the value of cross-border partnership working in advancing air quality science and understanding the health impacts of air pollution, underlining the need for sustained investment in research, community engagement and evidence-informed policy-making.

Supported by PEACEPLUS with €6,499,957 in funding, PEACE-Air will address three major sources of air pollution: solid fuel burning, transport emissions, and agricultural ammonia - through a structured programme of scientific research, behavioural insights, community outreach, and policy support. The project brings together local authorities, universities, environmental agencies, health organisations, and community groups from both jurisdictions, ensuring that its work is grounded in shared priorities and accessible evidence.

The PEACE-Air partnership consists of 10 core partners, including ERNACT (lead partner), Donegal County Council, Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, Queen’s University Belfast, University College Cork, TU Dublin, University of Galway, Ulster University, Trinity College Dublin, and the Institute of Public Health. Seven associate partners, including the EPA, NIEA, Asthma & Lung UK, the Irish Heart Foundation, and the Environmental Health Association of Ireland, will support delivery and contribute their specialist expertise.

The launch event at ATU Donegal provided an opportunity to discuss the project’s long-term ambitions, including the development of the first cross-border Strategy and Action Plan for Clean Air. This work will progress throughout the project, ensuring a lasting legacy for communities and public bodies across the island.

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, said: “I welcome the launch of the PEACE-Air project. Funded by the PEACEPLUS programme, PEACE-Air harnesses unique scientific and research capacity to address the shared cross-border challenge of air pollution.

“The work of PEACE-Air will help inform strategies to protect the natural environment and ensure clean air for people and communities across the island of Ireland. With a focus on strategic cross-border engagement, PEACE-Air exemplifies the positive public health and environmental impacts that can be achieved through effective North South collaboration.”

Finance Minister John O’Dowd MLA said: "I welcome this significant investment in the PEACE-Air project, which aims to create healthier communities and promote environmental sustainability. By equipping policymakers with the evidence and tools needed to shape effective clean air strategies, this initiative will ensure decisions are informed, co-ordinated, and deliver lasting benefits for communities across the island."

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “Air pollution is a shared challenge that knows no borders. PEACE-Air will be the first cross-border collaboration of its kind to tackle this challenge.

“The project will not only improve the quality of the air we breathe, but also demonstrate the immense value of partnership working across boundaries. It delivers unique scientific capability from across the island of Ireland, ensuring inclusive geographic coverage of Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

“This funding demonstrates PEACEPLUS in action, bringing experts together to work on delivering positive change which will benefit the lives of so many people across our programme area by protecting and enhancing our natural environment.”
Dr Caitriona Strain, General Manager of ERNACT, said: “ERNACT is proud to lead the PEACE-Air partnership and to support a project that places robust evidence, collaboration, and practical action at the centre of efforts to improve air quality across the island.

"Air pollution is a shared challenge that does not recognise borders, and PEACE-Air provides a unique opportunity to bring together research excellence, public authorities, and communities to inform policy and deliver real, long-term benefits for public health, the environment, and regional cooperation. This project will leave a lasting legacy through the development of a cross-border Strategy and Action Plan for Clean Air, grounded in science and shaped by those most affected.”