Latest News and Press Releases
Date released: October 22, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its report on the environmental enforcement performance of local authorities in 2024.
Date released: October 13, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published our flagship Water Quality in Ireland Report 2019-2024, which provides the latest, 3-yearly assessment of the quality of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters, canals and groundwaters.
Date released: October 08, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Urban Wastewater Treatment in 2024 report, released today, shows that investment at priority areas highlighted by the EPA is delivering improvements with the volume of raw sewage discharged daily halving since early 2024.
Date released: September 24, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its report, Air Quality in Ireland 2024, which is based on data from Ireland’s extensive air monitoring network of 115 stations. It reveals that while Ireland currently meets EU air quality standards, we are projected to fall short of the stricter air quality standards set for 2030 under the new Ambient Air Quality Directive.
Date released: September 23, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its latest data on municipal, packaging and construction and demolition waste for the 2023 reporting year.
Date released: September 18, 2025
The EPA is pleased to welcome Pat Byrne onto the EPA Board. Pat will take up his new position as Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring with immediate effect.
Date released: September 17, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Early Insights Nitrogen Indicator report for the first six-months of 2025.
Date released: August 28, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its report on the mid-term evaluation and implementation of Ireland’s National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027.
Date released: August 25, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Waterford City & County Council, today launched Clean Air Together Waterford, a citizen science project to measure air quality in Waterford.
Date released: August 07, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published updated evidence to further support the targeting of agricultural measures to protect and improve water quality.
Date released: August 05, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published its Annual Report and Accounts 2024.
Date released: August 05, 2025
D’fhoilsigh an Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil (GCC) a Tuarascáil Bhliantúil agus a Cuntais Bhliantúla le haghaidh 2024 inniu. Soláthraítear forbhreathnú ar ról GCC mar rialtóir comhshaoil, mar phríomhfhoinse fianaise agus eolais iontaofa eolaíoch sa Tuarascáil Bhliantúil agus Cuntais le haghaidh 2024, agus ar an gcaoi a n-oibríonn GCC li dteannta daoine eile chun torthaí comhshaoil níos fearr a sholáthar.
Date released: July 22, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2024 report.
Date released: July 03, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its provisional greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland for 2024. The figures show a reduction of 2 per cent or 1.1 Mt CO2eq compared to 2023, with emission reductions in almost all sectors - except for heating of homes and buildings.
Date released: July 02, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the full monitoring network results of the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in Irish waters in 2024.
Date released: July 01, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies Report 2024, released today, shows that over 99.8 per cent of samples from public water supplies comply with bacterial and chemical limits, which means our public water is safe to drink.
Date released: June 27, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to welcome Darragh Page onto the EPA Board. Darragh will take up his new position as Director of the EPA’s Office of Communications and Corporate Services with immediate effect.
Date released: June 25, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its report on Large Scale illegal Peat Extraction in Ireland. The EPA has investigated 38 sites across seven counties – Offaly, Kildare, Tipperary, Westmeath, Roscommon, Longford and Sligo – where large-scale commercial peat extraction is being carried on without any of the necessary authorisations from the local authorities.
Date released: June 19, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced new research awards of €6.9 million for environmental and climate research in Ireland. This brings to €21.4 million the total research funding announced by the EPA to date in 2025.
Date released: June 03, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the findings of Ireland’s first National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA).
Date released: May 27, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its greenhouse gas emissions projections for the period 2024-2055. EPA analysis shows that planned climate policies and measures, if fully implemented, could deliver up to 23 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 compared to 2018, down from the 29 per cent reduction projected last year. This widening gap to the emissions reduction target of 51 per cent in Ireland’s Climate Act is driven by updated information provided by Governmental bodies.
Date released: May 20, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its fourth report on Green Public Procurement (GPP) adoption by government departments.
Date released: May 13, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2024 , which details the findings of septic tank inspections completed by local authorities in 2024.
Date released: May 07, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Bathing Water Quality in Ireland report for 2024 which shows that water quality at most of Ireland’s bathing waters was of a high standard.
Date released: May 01, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published its 2023 assessment of five key air pollutants which impact air quality, health and the environment.
Date released: April 23, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary 2024.
Date released: April 04, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), today released its preliminary analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
Date released: April 03, 2025
The EPA today announced research funding of up to €6.6 million for new environmental research. The EPA is inviting proposals from the research community for innovative projects under 29 topics that will contribute to the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland.
Date released: March 18, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published early insights into nitrogen levels in rivers in 2024. The Early Insights Nitrogen Indicator 2024 has been developed to provide more timely information on nitrogen levels and is based on monitoring data at 20 major and representative rivers.
Date released: March 03, 2025
In October 2024, more than 400 citizen scientists measured levels of the harmful air pollutant, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), in Limerick’s Metropolitan District area as part of the Clean Air Together Limerick City project. A public event was hosted in Limerick this evening to present the results of the study to the people in Limerick. This large-scale citizen science project was led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with Limerick City and County Council.
Date released: February 28, 2025
Saturday 1st March is National Stop Food Waste Day, and the EPA is calling on people to follow the simple tips in the Stop Food Waste Pocket Guide to help reduce food waste and save money.
Date released: February 20, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced new funding for environmental and climate research in Ireland, with funding of €14.5 million awarded for 25 new research projects. These innovative, policy-relevant projects will address key knowledge gaps and support the development of vital research capacity in strategically important areas.
Date released: February 04, 2025
In its Annual Highlights, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showcases its work in addressing environmental challenges across Ireland.
Date released: December 16, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Circular Economy and Waste Statistics Highlights Report 2022. This report identifies that Ireland generated 15.7 million tonnes of waste in 2022, which although a decrease on 2021 figures, still shows a growth of over 20 per cent in the last decade.
Date released: December 02, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its report on the environmental enforcement performance of local authorities in 2023.
Date released: November 12, 2024
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes its National Priority Sites list for quarter three 2024.
Date released: November 05, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today released that show national, regional, and county-level data about people’s climate change beliefs, attitudes, policy preferences and behaviours. This is the third output from Wave 2 of the study, undertaken in 2023 by the EPA and the Yale University Program on Climate Change Communication in support of the National Dialogue on Climate Action.
Date released: October 21, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published quarterly greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland for Quarter 1 2024. This is a new series of quarterly greenhouse gas emission indicators which will support early and more frequent monitoring of progress on climate action.
Date released: October 10, 2024
The EPA’s Urban Wastewater Treatment in 2023 report, released today, highlights progress in wastewater treatment, including a 45 per cent reduction in the number of towns and villages discharging raw sewage, since the start of 2023. Nevertheless, wastewater treatment at many areas is not good enough to prevent wastewater discharges from impacting the quality of rivers, estuaries, lakes and coastal waters.
Date released: October 02, 2024
Today the EPA published its flagship 2024 State of the Environment Report. The report illustrates that Ireland continues to play catch-up. Our reliance on landfills has reduced dramatically, but we are generating and exporting too much waste. We have made progress in improving air quality in our cities, but we have increasing evidence that even low levels of air pollution impacts our health. While we have addressed serious pollution in many rivers and lakes, we are not making progress on the more widespread water pollution from too much nutrient.
Date released: October 02, 2024
D’fhoilsigh an GCC a Thuarascáil shuaitheanta do 2024 ar Staid an Chomhshaoil inniu. Léirítear sa tuarascáil go bhfuil Éire ag leanúint ar aghaidh ag iarraidh an bhearna a dhúnadh. Laghdaíodh ár spleáchas ar láithreáin líonta talún go mór ach táimid ag giniúint agus ag easpórtáil an iomarca dramhaíola. Rinneamar dul chun cinn maidir le feabhas a chur ar cháilíocht an aeir inár gcathracha, ach tá fianaise mhéadaitheach againn go bhfuil tionchar ag leibhéil ísle truaillithe aeir ar ár sláinte. Cé go bhfuil aghaidh tugtha againn ar thruailliú tromchúiseach i go leor aibhneacha agus lochanna, nílimid ag déanamh dul chun cinn ar an truailliú uisce níos forleithne ón iomarca cothaithigh.
Date released: September 22, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its annual air quality report Air Quality in Ireland 2023. The report is based on the extensive monitoring network in Ireland, which consists of 115 monitoring stations, reporting hourly, and is a leader across Europe in providing a 3-day air quality forecast.
Date released: August 28, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published National By-Product Criteria for Greenfield Soil and Stone.
Date released: August 21, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Limerick City & County Council, today launched Clean Air Together Limerick City, a citizen science project to measure air quality in Limerick.
Date released: August 08, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published its Annual Report and Accounts 2023. It coincides with the thirtieth anniversary of the EPA’s establishment, and outlines EPA activity in 2023.
Date released: August 08, 2024
D’fhoilsigh an Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil (GCC) a Tuarascáil Bhliantúil agus a Cuntais Bhliantúla le haghaidh 2023 inniu. Tá siad i gcomhthráth leis an gcomóradh tríocha bliain ar bhunú GCC, agus leagtar amach iontu gníomhaíocht GCC in 2023.
Date released: July 30, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published Climate Change’s Four Irelands’ an audience segmentation analysis of the Irish population. The report identifies four audiences within the Irish public who share similar sets of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours relating to climate change.
Date released: July 25, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2023 report.
Date released: July 08, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its provisional greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland for 2023.
Date released: July 02, 2024
The EPA Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies Report 2023 released today, shows that over 99.7 per cent of public water supplies comply with bacterial and chemical limits, which means our public water is safe to drink.
Date released: June 27, 2024
New figures released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today show that over 750,000 tonnes of food waste was generated in Ireland in 2022.
Date released: June 24, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) today published a new assessment of the average radiation doses received by the Irish population.
Date released: June 11, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published Water Quality in 2023: An Indicators Report. The report provides an update of the key indicators of the quality of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal and groundwaters using monitoring data collected in 2023.
Date released: May 27, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its greenhouse gas emissions projections for the period 2023-2050.
Date released: May 15, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Bathing Water Quality in Ireland report for 2023 which shows that water quality at the majority of Ireland’s bathing waters was of a high standard.
Date released: May 10, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published its 2022 assessment of five key air pollutants which impact air quality, health and the environment.
Date released: May 08, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2023 which details the findings of septic tank inspections completed by local authorities in 2023.
Date released: April 25, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its third report on Green Public Procurement (GPP) activity in government departments.
Date released: April 22, 2024
The next lecture in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Change lecture series will be delivered by Professor Lea Berrang Ford, Deputy Director at the UK Health Security Agency.
Date released: April 05, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), today released its preliminary analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 from the Emissions Trading System (ETS) sector.
Date released: April 04, 2024
Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced research funding of up to €14.5 million for new environmental research. The EPA is inviting proposals from the research community for innovative projects to support the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland.
Date released: March 26, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary 2023. The report gives details of enforcement activities across the 889 licensed facilities in 2023.
Date released: February 27, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published initial results from the second wave of its ‘Climate Change in the Irish Mind’ project (CCIM). This work was undertaken by the EPA and the Yale University Program on Climate Change Communication in support of the National Dialogue on Climate Action.
Date released: February 22, 2024
In October and November 2023, more than 300 citizen scientists measured levels of the harmful air pollutant, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), in Galway city as part of the Clean Air Together Galway City project.
Date released: February 22, 2024
I mí Dheireadh Fómhair agus i mí na Samhna 2023, thomhais os cionn 300 eolaí saoránaigh leibhéil an truailleáin aeir dhíobhálaigh, Dé-ocsaíd Nítrigine (NO2), i gCathair na Gaillimhe mar chuid den tionscadal Aer Glan Le Chéile Chathair na Gaillimhe.
Date released: February 14, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced new funding for Environmental and climate research in Ireland, with funding of €14.3 million awarded for 33 new research projects.
Date released: January 31, 2024
In its 2023 Highlights the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showcases its work in addressing environmental challenges across Ireland.
Date released: January 25, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published Ireland’s first Climate Change Assessment Report (ICCA). This major scientific assessment serves to complement and localise the global assessments undertaken by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Its findings build upon these assessments and add important local and national context.
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.
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.
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.
Date released: November 02, 2023
EPA launches a National Air Quality Forecast The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today launched a national air quality forecast to provide greater information to the public regarding expected air quality in Ireland for up to three days - “Today", “Tomorrow” and the “Day after Tomorrow”.
Date released: November 01, 2023
The EPA has today launched the second phase of a major new Online service, the Licensing and Enforcement Access Portal or LEAP Online. Today’s release delivers the further enforcement information, including details of incidents, non-compliances, complaint summaries and also compliance investigations into issues detected at licensed sites.
Date released: October 25, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2022, released today, shows that Uisce Éireann has made progress in stopping discharges of raw sewage over the past year, with the connection of six villages to new treatment plants in 2022.
Date released: October 24, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published two insight reports from its ‘Climate Change in the Irish Mind’ study. The reports ‘Climate Change in the Irish Mind - Support for Climate Policies’ and ‘Climate Change in the Irish Mind - Climate Risk Perceptions’ provide a detailed examination of some of the findings of the baseline study published in 2021.
Date released: October 19, 2023
The EPA today released the Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2022 report. Drinking water is provided to approximately 200,000 people across rural communities in Ireland, by over 380 group water schemes.
Date released: October 17, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published National End-of-Waste Criteria for Recycled Aggregates. The criteria apply to aggregates recycled from construction and demolition waste, including soil and stone, concrete, bricks and ceramics.
Date released: October 04, 2023
Today, at the National Radon Forum, the EPA and Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Service launched a library loan scheme of digital radon monitors and is calling on householders in County Cork to take the first step to protect themselves and their families from radon, a cancer-causing radioactive gas.
Date released: September 26, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to welcome David Flynn onto the EPA Board. David will take up his new position as Director of the EPA in October 2023.
Date released: September 24, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its annual air quality report ‘Air Quality in Ireland 2022’.
Date released: September 21, 2023
The EPA has today published the latest National Municipal Waste Characterisation Project. The project results show very little change in Ireland’s household and commercial waste management practices since 2018.
Date released: September 12, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published its Annual Report and Accounts 2022 detailing its role in protecting, improving and restoring Ireland’s environment through regulation, scientific knowledge and working with others.
Date released: August 24, 2023
Ireland is meeting current EU recycling targets and achieving high recycling rates for some streams such as glass, paper/cardboard and ferrous metals.
Date released: August 21, 2023
Sheol an Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil (GCC) agus Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe an tionscadal um Eolaíocht Saoránach ar a dtugtar Aer Glan Le Chéile (Cathair na Gaillimhe) inniu chun sonraí nua a bhailiú maidir le cáilíocht an aeir i gCathair na Gaillimhe.
Date released: August 21, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Galway City Council, today launched the Clean Air Together (Galway City) Citizen Science project, to gather new data on the quality of the air in Galway City.
Date released: July 31, 2023
The EPA Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies Report 2022 (insert link) released today, shows that over 99.7% of public water supplies comply with bacterial and chemical limits, which means our public water is safe to drink.
Date released: July 13, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its provisional greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland for 2022. The figures show a reduction of 1.9 per cent compared to 2021, with emission reductions in all key sectors except Transport.
Date released: June 29, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today launched a new Food Waste Charter, calling on all businesses and State Agencies operating across the food supply chain to sign up and commit to reducing food waste.
Date released: June 27, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Inspections in 2022. The EPA examined the 1,143 inspections of domestic waste water treatment systems completed by local authorities in 2022.
Date released: June 13, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the report Water Quality in 2022 – An Indicators Report which provides an update on the water quality of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal, and groundwaters for 2022.
Date released: June 09, 2023
The former Director of Neiphin Trading Limited, operators of a waste facility in Kerdiffstown, Co Kildare, was today sentenced to three years in prison on each of three charges for serious environmental offences. The sentences will run concurrently with the final 12 months suspended.
Date released: June 01, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions projections for the period 2022-2040.
Date released: May 26, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today launched the first phase of a major new Online service, the Licensing and Enforcement Access Portal or LEAP Online, which will allow the public to view the enforcement activities, actions and communications between the EPA and holders of EPA licences and permits.
Date released: May 24, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published its 2021 assessment of five key air pollutants which impact air quality, health and the environment.
Date released: May 11, 2023
The EPA has today published the Bathing Water Quality in Ireland report for 2022 which shows that water quality at the majority of Ireland’s bathing waters meets or exceeds the appropriate standards. 79% of bathing sites have 'Excellent’ water quality while 97% meet the minimum standard.
Date released: April 20, 2023
Environmental and climate research in Ireland today received a boost with the announcement by the EPA of up to €16 million in funding for new research projects, representing a significant increase over previous years.
Date released: April 17, 2023
The EPA, in partnership with Dublin City Council, is delighted to welcome Professor Stefan Rahmstorf, Co-Head of the Research Department on Earth System Analysis the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Professor of Physics of the Oceans at the University of Potsdam.
Date released: April 05, 2023
EPA’s review of 2022 shows the impact of environmental challenges and desire for action across IrelandIn its Review of 2022 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlights its work in addressing environmental challenges across Ireland.
Date released: April 04, 2023
The EPA, as the Competent Authority in Ireland for the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), today released its preliminary analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in 2022 from the ETS sector.
Date released: March 28, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its second report on Green Public Procurement (GPP) activity in Government Departments.
Date released: March 20, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) welcomes the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Synthesis Report as part of its 6th Assessment cycle.
Date released: February 27, 2023
The EPA today published the 2022 Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Report, an annual summary report on the enforcement activities carried out in 2022, alongside the list of sites which were designated as National Priority Sites during the year.
Date released: February 22, 2023
In October 2022, more than 700 citizen scientists measured levels of the harmful air pollutant, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in Cork City as part of the Clean Air Together (Cork City) project.
Date released: January 27, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today announced €10.7 million of research funding for 42 research projects addressing climate change and other emerging, complex environmental problems.
Date released: January 19, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today released new interactive maps of Ireland that show national, regional, and county level data about people’s climate change beliefs, attitudes, policy preferences and behaviours.