The Health Service Executive (HSE) has expressed horror that Cork city council has never conducted air pollution monitoring in the town. A council director confirmed that recent assessments of traffic and air quality were carried out by a team working on the proposed upgrade of the N20 road to motorway status. The HSE’s concern highlights a gap in local environmental data collection. The council has not implemented any formal air quality monitoring systems. The N20 road upgrade is part of a larger infrastructure plan to ease congestion in Cork. The HSE’s comments come amid growing public concern over air quality in urban areas. The proposed motorway upgrade aims to improve traffic flow but has not included air quality monitoring as part of its planning. Local residents have raised questions about the lack of data on pollution levels. The council has not yet responded to the HSE’s criticism. The situation has sparked debate about the need for more transparent environmental policies in Cork.