See what air quality is like in your locality and follow the associated health advice.
Radon contributes the largest percentage of dose to the average Irish citizen
In this section, you will learn more about how you can help protect your environment.
Analysis of over 100 years of observational data shows that our climate is changing. This is most evident in the temperature data and particularly over recent decades.
Have you a private well? Learn more about it.
How does your septic take system work?
The EPA carries out rigorous and continuous testing to ensure that environmental radiation remains within internationally agreed and legal safety limits.
A collection of frequently asked questions about the Environment and You.
Popular FAQs
I have observed a contractor spraying pesticides in a public area not taking any safety precautions to protect the public - who to contact
You will need to contact the Pesticide Registration & Control Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine for advice on this matter.
Further information is available here: http://www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/sud/professionaluserssprayeroperators/
When is the application of fertiliser (chemical, organic fertiliser (other than farmyard manure) and farmyard manure) to land prohibited?
The periods when the application of fertilisers to land is prohibited are specified in Schedule 4 of the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014 as follows:
1. In counties Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow, the period during which the application of fertilisers to land is prohibited is the period from—
(a) 15 September to 12 January in the case of the application of chemical fertiliser
(b) 15 October to 12 January in the case of the application of organic fertiliser (other than farmyard manure)
(c) 1 November to 12 January in the case of the application of farmyard manure.
2. In counties Clare, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath, the period during which the application of fertilisers to land is prohibited is the period from—
(a) 15 September to 15 January in the case of the application of chemical fertiliser
(b) 15 October to 15 January in the case of the application of organic fertiliser (other than farmyard manure)
(c) 1 November to 15 January in the case of the application of farmyard manure.
3. In counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and Monaghan, the period during which the application of fertilisers to land is prohibited is the period from—
(a) 15 September to 31 January in the case of the application of chemical fertiliser
(b) 15 October to 31 January in the case of the application of organic fertiliser (other than farmyard manure)
(c) 1 November to 31 January in the case of the application of farmyard manure.
In order to prevent waters from being polluted by nitrogen and phosphorus, the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations, 2014 require that you must do the following:
The following table shows the different buffer zones for different kinds of water bodies (lakes, rivers, wells etc.). You must not spread soiled water, effluents, farmyard manures or other organic fertilisers inside these buffer zones. Buffer zones for spreading organic fertilisers.
Water body / Feature | Buffer zone |
---|---|
Any water supply source providing 100m3 or more of water per day, or serving 500 or more people | 200 metres (or as little as 30 metres where a local authority allows) |
Any water supply source providing 10m3 or more of water per day, or serving 50 or more people | 100 metres (or as little as 30 metres where a local authority allows) |
Any other water supply for human consumption | 25 metres (or as little as 30 metres where a local authority allows) |
Lake shoreline | 20 metres |
Exposed cavernous or karstified limestone features (such as swallow holes or collapse features) | 15 metres |
Any surface watercourse where the slope towards the watercourse exceeds 10% | 10 metres |
Any other surface waters | 5 metres* |
* The 5 metre buffer zone is increased to 10 metres for a period of two weeks preceding and two weeks following the periods when application of fertilisers to land is prohibited as set out in Schedule 4 of the Regulations (check the table and map on page 6). The objective of increased setback distances at the shoulders of the closed period is to help retain as much of the applied nutrient in the field as possible thereby reducing its risk of loss through overland flow.
In the case of water for human consumption, your Local Authority may vary buffer widths from those specified above, and will inform you if they do so.
The EPA is responsible for reporting on nature conservation in its 'State of the Environment' reports. However, responsibility for nature conservation lies with the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) is part of the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government and is charged with the conservation of a range of habitats and species in Ireland. Some of its most important activities include:
Designation and protection of Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) & Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and,
Managing and developing our National Parks and Nature Reserves.
For further information please go to the National Parks and Wildlife Service website.
Information on hazardous waste collection permit holders is available from the National Waste Collection Permit Office.