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See Something? Say Something

How to Make an Environmental Complaint

A. Who to Contact
B. What to Say and Do
C. Directory of Relevant Agencies

This leaflet explains who you should contact and what you can do to help resolve environmental problems see something? say something!

Part A: Who to Contact

Step One: Contact the Person or Business Directly

In many cases, it will be possible to resolve an environmental problem by contacting the person or business that you think is causing the problem directly. If you would prefer not to take this option, please move on to Step Two.

If you do contact the person or business directly, it is best to decide before you make contact what outcome you would like to see. Then contact them directly, by phone or in writing and outline the issue that needs to be resolved, how you would like to see it resolved and agree a timescale for this to be achieved.

Some areas, like

wildlife & habitat protection,
workplace health & safety, and
public health

are the responsibility of specific public bodies. Contact details for these public bodies and information on the issues they are responsible for can be found at the back of this leaflet.

Rather than go through this complaints process you have the option of bringing your own actions under many sections of environmental law. ENFO has produced a leaflet, “Citizen’s Role as Enforcer of Environmental & Planning Law”, which explains this. ENFO can be reached on LoCall 1890 200 191 or http://www.enfo.ie/.

Step Two: Contact the Local Authority

If the first step in the process has not produced a satisfactory result, please contact your local authority except where your concern is about a business with an EPA licence.

The EPA licences large industry or large waste management facilities such as landfills. In this case, please move to Step Three.

So, where the problem relates to matters like littering, backyard burning, water pollution, noise, dust and smells you should be contacting the local authority, unless the business has an EPA licence.

Step Three: Contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

If you’ve been dealing with an EPA licensed site and the problem has not been resolved then you should contact the EPA.

Also, in cases where a local authority has investigated your complaint and the problem persists, please contact the EPA. The EPA will then investigate the issue and resolve it where possible.

It is important to note that the EPA will not become involved in investigating an issue that should be resolved by a local authority, until the relevant local authority has been given an opportunity to investigate and resolve the issue.

Part B: What to Say and Do

Keep a record

If you have chosen to get in contact by phone, it is good practice to take note of the date and time of the call, the name of the person you spoke to, the main points of the conversation, what actions have been undertaken by the person contacted and by yourself. Where further calls are made the same information should be taken and retained.

Details are important

Give as much detail as possible –

Who? What? When? Where? !!

Follow up

You may wish to follow up any phone calls in writing or by e-mail. If so, make sure you keep a copy of any correspondence. This information may be useful in later steps of the process.

On-line form

You can also use the Environmental Complaint Form available on the local authority’s or EPA website and also at the local authority or EPA offices. Contact details, including website addresses, for all local authorities and the EPA can be found at the back of this leaflet. Again, please remember to keep a copy of all correspondence.

When you are seeking to resolve an environmental problem, whether you are at Step 1, 2 or 3, keep the following things in mind.

Keeping abreast of progress

When you make a complaint, you will be told how your complaint will be dealt with. Some problems can be resolved quickly. However, some environmental problems by their nature can take a considerable amount of time to resolve. If you would like to hear more about progress on your complaint, please contact the relevant local authority or EPA office where you lodged your complaint.

Confidentiality

To progress its investigation the local authority or the EPA will, in many cases, need to be able to contact you for further information or assistance.

You will be encouraged to give your name and contact details, as investigating anonymous complaints can be very difficult. You can request that your name and contact details be kept confidential.

In order to maintain a complete public record of activities relating to an EPA licensed facility/site, it is normal practice that complaint details about licensed facilities are put on public file. Again, you can request that your name and contact details be kept confidential in which case your name and details will be withheld from the public file.

Please note that information submitted to public bodies is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003.

Your role as a witness

Finally, in some instances it may be necessary that a court action be taken to resolve a problem. If this is the case you may be asked to act as a witness and to give sworn testimony.

Part C: Directory of Regional Agencies

Local Authorities

Carlow County Council

Environmental Complaints, Carlow County Council, Assembly Rooms, Dublin Street, Carlow

Tel +353 59 9136229,
+353 59 9136264,
+353 59 9136231

Fax +353 59 9164232

Email enviro@carlowcoco.ie

Website www.carlow.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 308 208

Cavan County Council

Environmental Complaint Coordinator, Environment Section, Cavan County Council, Courthouse, Cavan

Tel +353 49 4371429

Fax +353 49 4371423

Email epc@cavancoco.ie

Website www.cavancoco.ie

Clare County Council

Environmental Complaints Coordinator, Clare County Council, Environment and Emergency Services Directorate, Block B, IAPE Building, Gort Road, Ennis, Co Clare

Tel +353 65 6846331

Out of Hours 1800 606 706

Fax +353 65 6846444

Email enviroff@clarecoco.ie

Website www.clare.ie

Cork County Council

Administrative Officer Complaints, Environmental Directorate, Cork County Council, Inniscarra, Co Cork

Tel +353 21 4532700

Out of Hours +353 21 4821433

Fax +353 21 4532727

Email environmental.complaints@corkcoco.ie

Website www.corkcoco.ie

Cork City Council

Administrative Officer Environment, Cork City Council, Floor 3, Norwich Union House, 89/90 South Mall, Cork

Tel +353 21 4966222

Fax +353 21 4924054

Email environment@corkcity.ie

Website www.corkcity.ie

Donegal County Council

Environment Section, Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford, Co Donegal

Tel +353 74 9172222

Fax +353 74 9141205

Email environment@donegalcoco.ie

Website www.donegalcoco.ie

Dublin City Council

Customer Services Centre, Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Dublin 8

Tel +353 1 2222222

Email info@dublincity.ie

Website www.dublincity.ie

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

Environmental Complaints Coordinator, Enforcement Section, Environmental Services Department, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin

Tel +353 1 2047954

Out of Hours +353 1 6778844

Fax +353 1 2300125

Email wasteenforcement@dlrcoco.ie

Website www.dlrcoco.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 403 503

Fingal County Council

Administrative Officer, Enforcement Section, Environment Department, Fingal County Council, PO Box 174, County Hall, Swords, Fingal, Co Dublin

Tel +353 1 8905013,
+353 1 8906274

Out of Hours +353 1 8731415

Fax +353 1 8906270

Email envserv@fingalcoco.ie

Website www.fingalcoco.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 201 093

Galway City Council

Environment Section, Galway City Council, City Hall, College Road, Galway

Tel +353 91 536563,
+353 91 536595 Helpline

Fax +353 91 568146

Email environment@galwaycity.ie

Website www.galwaycity.ie

Galway County Council

Environmental Complaints, Coordinator, Environment Section, Galway County Council, Áras an Chontae, Prospect Hill, Galway

Tel +353 91 509302

Out of Hours +353 91 585555

Fax +353 91 509033

Email environ@galwaycoco.ie

Website www.galway.ie

Kerry County Council

Administrative Officer, Environment Section, Kerry County Council, County Buildings, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry

Tel +353 66 7183562 Litter Complaints,
+353 66 7162000 Waste & Pollution Complaints

Fax +353 66 7120927

Email environ@kerrycoco.ie

Website www.kerrycoco.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 326 228

Kildare County Council

Administrative Officer, Environment Section, Kildare County Council, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co Kildare

Tel +353 45 980588

Out of Hours 1890 500 333

Fax +353 45 980587

Email environ@kildarecoco.ie

Website www.kildare.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 243 143

Kilkenny County Council

Environmental Complaints Coordinator, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny City

Tel +353 56 7794470

Out of Hours 1850 200 156

Fax +353 56 7794004

Email environment@

kilkennycoco.ie

Website www.kilkennycoco.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 200 156

Laois County Council

Administrative Officer, Environment Section, Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae, JFL Avenue, Portlaoise, Co Laois

Tel +353 57 8674318

Fax +353 57 8674382

Email environmentadmin@laoiscoco.ie

Website www.laois.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 32 32 30

Leitrim County Council

Environmental Complaints Coordinator, Leitrim County Council, Áras an Chontae, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim

Tel 1890 205205

Fax +353 71 9621982

Email environmentalcomplaints@leitrimcoco.ie

Website www.leitrimcoco.ie

Litter Hotline 1890 205 205

Limerick City Council

Administrative Officer, Environment Department, Limerick City Council, City Hall, Merchant’s Quay, Limerick

Tel +353 61 407190

Out of Hours +353 61 417833

Fax +353 61 418345

Email environ@limerickcity.ie

Website www.limerickcity.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 216 816

Limerick County Council

Administrative Officer, Environment Section, Limerick County Council, Floor 3 County Hall, Dooradoyle, Co Limerick

Tel +353 61 496264

Fax +353 61 496008

Email environ@limerickcoco.ie

Website www.limerickcoco.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 201 151

Longford County Council

Environmental Complaints Coordinator, Longford County Council, Áras an Chontae, Great Water Street, Longford, County Longford

Tel +353 43 43468

1850 434 450

Fax +353 43 43439

Email environmental.complaints@longfordcoco.ie

Website www.longfordcoco.ie

Hotline 1850 434 450

Louth County Council

Senior Staff Officer, Environment Section, Louth County Council, County Hall, Millennium Centre, Dundalk, Co Louth

Tel +353 42 9353130

Out of Hours +353 42 9335457

Fax +353 42 9353196

Email environment@louthcoco.ie

Website www.louthcoco.ie

Litter Line 1800 202 606

Mayo County Council

Environmental Complaints Officer, Mayo County Council, Áras an Chontae, Castlebar, Co Mayo

Tel +353 94 9024444 Ext 7442

Fax +353 94 9028445

Email envcomplaints@mayococo.ie

Website www.mayococo.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 400 256

Meath County Council

Senior Executive Officer, Environment Section, Meath County Council, County Hall, Navan, Co Meath

Tel +353 46 9097204,
+353 46 9097205,
+353 46 9097206,
+353 46 9097207

Out of Hours 1890 445 335

Fax +353 46 9097001

Email environment@meathcoco.ie

Website www.meath.ie

Litter Hotline 1890 228 466

Monaghan County Council

Administration Officer, Environment, Monaghan County Council, The Glen, Monaghan, Co Monaghan

Tel +353 47 30592

Fax +353 47 82739

Email environ@monaghancoco.ie

Website www.monaghan.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 200 014

North Tipperary County Council

Administrative Officer, Environment Section, North Tipperary County Council, Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, Co Tipperary

Tel +353 67 44786

Fax +353 67 32260

Email environment@northtippcoco.ie

Website www.tipperarynorth.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 250 350

Offaly County Council

Environmental Services, Offaly County Council, Áras an Chontae, Tullamore, Co Offaly

Tel +353 57 9346895,
+353 57 9346800

Out of Hours 1890 750 750

Fax +353 57 9329230

Email environment@offalycoco.ie

Website www.offaly.ie

Environment Hotline 1800 242 673

Roscommon County Council

Environmental Complaints Coordinator, Environment Section, Roscommon County Council, Roscommon West Business Park, Circular Road, Roscommon

Tel +353 90 6637261

Fax +353 90 6634443

Email environment@roscommoncoco.ie

Website www.roscommoncoco.ie

Litter Hotline 1850 548 837

Sligo County Council

Environment Complaints Officer, Sligo County Council, Unit 9, Cleveragh Business Park, Sligo

Tel +353 71 9111902

Fax +353 71 9111924

Email enviro@sligococo.ie

Website www.sligococo.ie

South Dublin County Council

Environmental Services Department, South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Town Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24

Tel +353 1 4149000

Fax +353 1 4149261,
+353 1 4149101

Email cccounter@sdublincoco.ie

Website www.southdublin.ie

South Tipperary County Council

Administrative Officer, Environment Section, South Tipperary County Council, Old Museum, Parnell Street, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Tel +353 52 34455

Out of Hours 1800 202 627

Fax +353 52 34391

Email environ@southtippcoco.ie

Website www.southtippcoco.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 202 627

Waterford City Council

Environmental Complaints Coordinator, Environmental Services, Waterford City Council, Wallace House, Maritana Gate, Canada Street, Waterford

Tel +353 51 849720

Out of Hours +353 51 875555

Fax +353 51 849530

Email environservices@waterfordcity.ie

Website www.waterfordcity.ie

Waterford County Council

Environmental Complaints Coordinator, Environmental Enforcement Office, Waterford County Council, Civic Offices, Dungarvan, Co Waterford

Tel +353 58 22000,
+353 58 21113

Out of Hours +353 58 22000

Fax +353 58 20889

Email environmentalcomplaints@waterfordcoco.ie

Website www.waterfordcoco.ie

Litter Hotline 1800 201 501

Westmeath County Council

Senior Engineer, Environment Section, Westmeath County Council, Bishopsgate Street, Mullingar, Co Westmeath

Tel +353 44 9332169

Out of Hours +353 44 9332000

Fax +353 44 9384239

environment@westmeathcoco.ie

Website www.westmeathcoco.ie

Litter Hotline 1890 320 005

Wexford County Council

Environmental Complaints Coordinator, Environment Enforcement, Wexford County Council, County Hall, Wexford

Tel 1800 767 848
+353 53 9176619

Out of Hours 1890 666 777

Fax +353 53 9147748

Email environment.enforcement@wexfordcoco.ie

Website www.wexford.ie

Wicklow County Council

Senior Executive Officer, Water & Environmental Services Section, Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Wicklow Town

Tel +353 404 20296

Fax +353 404 67792

Email envserv@wicklowcoco.ie

Website www.wicklow.ie

Litter Hotline 1890 548 837

‘Dump the Dumpers’ LoCall 1850 365 121

Fax +353 56 7796798

Monaghan

Environmental Protection Agency,
The Glen, Monaghan,
Co Monaghan

Tel +353 47 77600

Fax +353 47 84987

Wexford

OEE Public Authority Enforcement,
Environmental Complaints Unit,
Office of Environmental Enforcement,
Environmental Protection Agency,
PO Box 3000,
Johnstown Castle Estate,
Co Wexford

Tel +353 53 9160600

LoCall 1890 33 55 99

Fax +353 53 9160699

Email info@epa.ie

Website www.epa.ie

ENFO

ENFO is the environmental information service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

ENFO,
17 St Andrew Street,
Dublin 2

Tel 1890 200 191,
+353 1 8882001

Fax +353 1 8883946

Email info@enfo.ie

Website www.enfo.ie

Health Service Executive

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for dealing with complaints about public health matters. If you have a concern about impacts of an activity or incident on your own health, the health of your family or the health of the wider community, contact the Health Services Executive so that public health issues can be investigated.

Health Service Executive (HSE) Head Office,
Oak House,
Millennium Park,
Naas, Co Kildare

Tel +353 45 880400

Fax 1890 200 893

Website www.hse.ie

Regional Fisheries Boards

The Regional Fisheries Boards are statutory bodies mainly responsible for aquatic life forms and the fish habitat.

They investigate complaints about fish kills and water pollution matters, including pollution arising from Local Authority Works and are also interested in any activity that impacts on waters such as dredging, gravel removal, bridge construction etc.

Central Fisheries Board

Swords Business Campus,
Swords, Co Dublin

Tel +353 1 8842600

Fax +353 1 8360060

Email info@cfb.ie

Website www.cfb.ie

Eastern Regional Fisheries Board

15A Main Street, Blackrock, Co Dublin

Tel +353 1 2787022

Fax +353 1 2787025

Email info@erfb.ie

Website www.fishingireland.net

Northern Regional Fisheries Board

Station Road, Ballyshannon,
Co Donegal

Tel +353 71 9851435

Fax +353 71 9851815

Email info@nrfb.ie

Website www.nrfb.ie

North Western Regional Fisheries Board

Ardnaree House,
Abbey Street,
Ballina, Co Mayo

Tel +353 96 9022788

Fax +353 96 9070543

Email info@nwrfb.com

Website www.northwestfisheries.ie

Shannon Regional Fisheries Board

Ashbourne Business Park,
Dock Road,
Limerick

Tel +353 61 300238

Fax +353 61 300308

Email info@shrfb.com

Website www.shannon-fishery-board.ie

Southern Regional Fisheries Board

Epworth, Anglesea Street,
Clonmel,
Co Tipperary

Tel +353 52 80055

Fax +353 52 23971

Email enquiries@srfb.ie

Website www.srfb.ie

South Western Regional Fisheries Board

Sunnyside House,
Macroom, Co Cork

Tel +353 26 41222

Fax +353 26 41223

Email swrfb@swrfb.ie

Website www.swrfb.com

Western Regional Fisheries Board

The Weir Lodge,
Earl’s Island,
Galway

Tel +353 91 563110

Fax +353 91 566335

Email info@wrfb.ie

Website www.wrfb.ie

National Parks and Wildlife Service – Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government

The National Parks and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government is responsible for investigating complaints about wildlife and habitat protection matters.

National Parks & Wildlife Service,
7 Ely Place,
Dublin 2

Tel +353 1 8882000

Fax +353 1 8883272

Email natureconservation@environ.ie

Website www.npws.ie

An Garda Síochána

An Garda Síochána should be contacted where you have concerns that a criminal offence has been committed.

Health & Safety Authority

The Health & Safety Authority is responsible for securing health and safety at work.

Health & Safety Authority,
The Metropolitan Building,
James Joyce Street,
Dublin 1

Tel 1890 289 389

Fax +353 1 6147020

Email wcu@hsa.ie

Website www.hsa.ie

Food Safety Authority of Ireland

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland aims to protect consumers’ health and consumers’ interests by ensuring that food consumed, distributed, marketed or produced in the state meets the highest standards of food safety and hygiene.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland,
Abbey Court,
Lower Abbey Street,
Dublin 1

Tel +353 1 8171300

Fax +353 1 8171301

Email info@fsai.ie

Website www.fsai.ie

Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII)

The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) is the national organisation with regulatory, monitoring and advisory responsibilities concerning ionising radiation and radioactive contamination in the environment.

Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland,
3 Clonskeagh Square,
Clonskeagh Road,
Dublin 14

Tel +353 1 2697766

Fax +353 1 2697437

Email rpii@rpii.ie

Website www.rpii.ie

Department of Agriculture & Food

The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for overseeing single-farm payments to farmers, which are subject to cross-compliance with environmental directives. The Department carries out inspections to meet EU requirements and arrangements for cross reporting with other control authorities are being put in place.

Department of Agriculture & Food,
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street,
Dublin 2

Tel +353 1 6072000

Locall 1890 200 510

Email info@agriculture.gov.ie

Website www.agriculture.gov.ie

EU Commission

The European Commission is responsible for ensuring that Community law is applied properly in the Member States.

Anyone may lodge a complaint with the Commission against a Member State about any measure (law, regulation or administrative action) or practice, which they consider incompatible with a provision or a principle of Community law. It may be appropriate before contacting the European Commission to first ensure that the National Authorities are sufficiently informed about and given an opportunity to respond to a potentially unsatisfactory situation complained about. Standard complaint forms are available on the website of the European Commission www.ec.europa.eu

Alternatively, a complaint may also be sent by ordinary letter. Such complaints should be sent to the following address:

Commission of the European Communities,
(for the attention of the Secretary-General),
B-1049 Brussels,
Belgium