Serious questions must be asked regarding Cork's pollution problems, according to the Green Party Deputy, Cllr Dan Boyle.
The Cork South Central TD has expressed concern at the large number of Cork locations to be found on the first European Pollutant Emissions Register.
"One-quarter of the 154 Irish entries on the European Pollutant Emissions Register are located in Cork," said Cllr Boyle.
"Serious questions must now be asked as to what the State regulatory agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Cork local authorities are doing to prevent and minimise the creation of pollution in the region."
Cllr Boyle said that while the publication of the register was valuable in informing the public of the locations and degrees of pollution to be found in their communities, it wasn't enough for regulatory agencies to issue licences which allowed pollution and then simply record the pollution that results.
He said the inclusion of local authority facilities in the register caused great concern.
"The fact that facilities operated by local authorities are included as polluters is an embarrassment. For example, it is clear that the Kinsale Road landfill is long past its sell-by date. And now the Government is proposing to locate a national toxic waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy. It is time to ask what controls for pollution are being put in place," he added.