A national ban on cars idling outside schools is a “no-brainer” according to an expert on the effects of air pollution.

It comes as dozens of schools around the country introduce ‘no-idling’ zones as part of a campaign to combat the pollution caused by cars dropping off and collecting children.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Consultant Geriatrician Dr Colm Byrne, who is currently researching the association of air pollution and stroke, said air pollution can being to affect children from a young age.

“Air pollution from cars is increasingly recognised as an issue for children and for everyone living around schools,” he said.

“There is a lot of evidence now that things like asthmas can be triggered in children by air pollution for traffic, but additionally, things like allergies and even mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression can also be linked to air pollution outside schools.

“The long-term effects of air pollution are being increasingly found in children. Post-mortem studies on children who passed away, who have lived in areas of high pollution, have found markers of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease at a young age in their brains.

“Healthy aging starts when you are a child and what happens to us at a young age can have lifetime effects.”

No-idling zones

He said a national ban on cars idling outside schools is a “no-brainer.”

“I do think it should happen around all schools and I think it should be a national policy from the Department of Education,” he said.

“It should also be a national policy from the Department of Transport as well. There is a rule in the UK that idling is illegal and I think we should copy them here.

“It is not just air pollution; it wastes money as well. You can sit in your car outside the school and listen to Newstalk for ten minutes on your battery. You don’t need to be running the car to be doing that.”

He said the proposal may also encourage more people to walk or cycle to school.

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