Climate Change

Climate change means a significant change in the measures of climate, such as temperature, rainfall, or wind, lasting for an extended period – decades or longer.

Climate Change and You

What's happening and what impact will climate change have on Ireland?

Waste water

The Environmental Protection Agency is the environmental regulator of Uisce Éireann . We issue and enforce authorisations for waste water discharges.

icon with waste water coming out of a pipe
Waste water and You

How best to maintain your septic tank.

Waste

The Environmental Protection Agency licences, monitors and regulates certain activities in the waste sector.

waste truck
Waste and You

Learn more about waste

Drinking water

The Environmental Protection agency is the drinking water quality regulator, responsible for enforcing the Drinking Water Regulations for public water supplies.

Drinking water and You

Where does your drinking water come from?

Radiation

The EPA assess exposure to radiation from sources in the environment through monitoring programmes and operates a graded authorisation system to register and licence any practice involving the use of radioactive sources or equipment such as X-ray.

Radiation and You

What is Radiation and how can it affect you?

Air

The Environmental Protection Agency manages the national ambient air quality monitoring network. We also measure the levels of emissions of a number of atmospheric pollutants. The ambient air pollutants of most concern are fine particulate matter from the burning of solid fuel and nitrogen dioxide from transport emissions.

Air and You

See the air quality index for health, this will tell the about air in your area

Additional things you can do

Latest Publications

Circular economy graphic representation
EPA Circular Economy and Waste Statistics Highlights Report 2021

This report gives the data highlights on waste generation and management in Ireland in 2021. Key trends and progress towards upcoming EU targets, along with information on material consumption and circularity are provided. A new spotlight section focuses on current topics in the circular economy area. An update to circular economy actions published in 2022 is given along with further actions that government, industry and individuals can make to help us transition towards a circular economy.

LA_Enforcement_2022
Focus on Local Authority Environmental Enforcement

Performance Report 2022

This report sets out the results of the EPA’s assessment of local authority environmental enforcement performance for 2022. This assessment is based on the EPA’s Local Authority Performance Framework which measures performance against the delivery of environmental outcomes under 20 National Enforcement Priorities.

Thumbnail image for UWW Report 2022
Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2022

This report provides an overview of urban waste water treatment in Ireland during 2022. It identifies the priority issues that Uisce Éireann must address to protect our environment from the harmful effects of waste water discharges.

Drinking water quality private supplies 2022 cover
Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2022

This report provides an overview of the quality of drinking water in private group schemes and small private supplies.

Climate Change in the Irish Mind Insight Report 1 Cover
Climate Change in the Irish Mind - Insight Reports

Insight Reports from the EPA's Climate Change in the Irish Mind Study focus on the topics of national levels of support for climate policies, and demographic trends in climate change risk perceptions.

EPA publishes national criteria that allow for the safe reuse of site-won asphalt (road planings) as a by-product

Date released: November 30, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published National By-Product Criteria for Site-Won Asphalt (road planings) from road developments.

Recycling rates slow as Ireland off track to meet key EU targets

Date released: November 27, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Circular Economy and Waste Statistics Highlights Report 2021. Ireland’s waste generation levels are continuing to rise and Ireland is failing to make sufficient inroads towards key EU recycling targets that apply from 2025 onwards.

Local authorities must prioritise environmental protection to improve air and water quality and increase waste recycling

Date released: November 13, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its report on the environmental enforcement performance of local authorities in 2022. The report shows that the scale of environmental enforcement work carried out by local authorities is significant.

Environmental Law Conference 2023

Date: November 16, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Irish Centre for European Law (ICEL) are holding a joint environmental law conference which will take place on Thursday 16th November 2023 in Dublin Castle. Convened by Dr Tom Ryan (EPA) and Margaret Gray SC KC , the conference will consider a number of themes including Environmental Law Enforcement and Emerging Issues in Environmental Law Research.

National Air Event 2023- Clean Air - Vital for our health

Date: November 15, 2023

We are excited to announce that this year the National Air Event “Clean Air – vital for our Health” will take place, in person, in the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel on 15 November 2023