Volkswagen Group Ireland has announced its plan to correct the emissions characteristics of certain diesel vehicles, saying just under 80,000 vehicles have been affected.

In a statement, the group confirms the specific number sold via their authorised dealer network in Ireland- including over 34,000 Volkswagen Passenger Cars, 16,000 Audi, 16-thousand Skoda, over 4,000 SEAT and more than 8,000 Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

The group says the number of affected used vehicles imported is still under clarification however, it could be up to an additional 30,000 cars.

Volkswagen says Vehicle Identification Number details of those affected will also be released centrally from brands to retailers in the coming days

VW says affected customers will be contacted, with details of a process to get their vehicles corrected in the near future.

The car manufacturer says all vehicles are technically safe and roadworthy.

In a statement yesterday, VW Ireland said it was still working with its various factories to establish the exact numbers affected in each local market.

Once regulators approve the technical fix required, car owners will be invited to make an appointment with a mechanic to have the software removed.

The Volkswagen Group confirmed it would present exact numbers affected worldwide and the technical fix required to regulators during October - and that all local franchises would set up national information websites.

CEO of the NSAI, Maurice Buckley, says they will take action here once details emerge from a European wide investigation.

"We are the approval authority in Ireland we're very much on the case of this issue" he told Newstalk Breakfast.

"It means that right now it's being investigated across Europe - we've a single European system".

"The information is beginning to come through as to what exactly happened, these defeat devices that were in the cars: what exactly were they doing...how this can be remedied" he added.

Mr Buckley says there is no need for people to panic immediately.