More focused and co-ordinated enforcement is needed by local authorities to protect water and air quality, cautions EPA. - Dec 16 2021, 3:30 PM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today released its report on local authority environmental enforcement activities for 2020. The EPA has seen a high level of inspections and enforcement actions carried out by local authorities, with the bulk of these relating to waste and litter. Local authorities also handled a substantial volume of environmental complaints during the year - predominantly relating to waste issues.

Vulnerability of Ireland’s drinking water supplies must be urgently addressed by Irish Water, says EPA - Dec 14 2021, 2:45 PM
The EPA Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies Report 2020 released today, shows that the quality of drinking water in public supplies remains high, with over 99.7% compliance with bacterial and chemical limits. The continued high levels of water quality being achieved are positive for consumers and indicate that the water is safe to drink. However, improvements are needed in our drinking water infrastructure to protect public health. Delays in the delivery of these improvements at water treatment plants by Irish Water means that water supplies remain vulnerable for longer, posing a risk to the health of a large portion of the population.

Major new study shows overwhelming agreement among Irish public on the threat of climate change and the desire for action - Dec 9 2021, 5:37 PM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the first report from its ‘Climate Change in the Irish Mind’ project. This work was undertaken by EPA and the Yale University Program on Climate Change Communication (its academic partner) in support of the National Dialogue on Climate Action. The project aims to develop a better understanding of the Irish population by conducting a baseline study of public climate change beliefs, risk perceptions, policy preferences, and behaviour of the Irish public to climate change.

EPA calls for urgent action to address Ireland’s rising waste volumes and falling recycling rates - Dec 2 2021, 2:54 PM
Waste generation in Ireland continues to rise while recycling rates are falling, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Waste Statistics Summary Report for 2019 (insert link), which publishes the most recent official data on waste generation and management in Ireland. The report reveals some worrying trends.

Large decrease in air pollution from traffic in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions - Nov 22 2021, 2:54 PM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today launched its annual air quality report ‘Air Quality in Ireland 2020’. The report shows that, while air quality in Ireland is generally good and compares favourably with many of our European neighbours, there are worrying localised issues which lead to poor air quality.

EPA Climate Change Lecture Series - An evening with Professor Michael Mann - Nov 12 2021, 11:00 AM
Professor Michael Mann will present the next EPA Climate Change Lecture which will take place virtually on Monday 15th November at 7pm. This lecture forms part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action.

Unacceptable delays and the pace at which essential improvements in waste water treatment are being delivered is too slow, says EPA - Nov 2 2021, 10:30 PM
The EPA report on Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2020, released today, shows that the pace at which essential improvements in waste water treatment are being delivered is too slow. Irish Water is making progress in resolving environmental issues and the number of priority areas has reduced from 148 to 97 over the past four years. However, there is still a long way to go to bring all deficient treatment systems up to standard.

Pandemic restrictions, less peat and more wind energy lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 - Oct 21 2021, 11:55 PM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its provisional greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland for 2020. The figures show a reduction in emissions of 3.6 per cent compared to 2019, which although significant, is 0.4 per cent less than the reduction seen in 2019.

The protection of public health is of paramount importance in the provision of our public drinking water supplies, says EPA - Sep 17 2021, 8:11 PM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wrote to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage this week to advise of its’ concerns in relation to incidents at two drinking water treatment plants. EPA investigations at these plants revealed the abject failure of managerial oversight, operational control and responsiveness by Irish Water and local authorities in terms of their respective roles to deliver safe and secure drinking water.

EPA publishes Green Public Procurement: Guidance for the Public Sector - Sep 15 2021, 9:00 AM
Ossian Smyth TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement and eGovernment at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) and with special responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), today launched the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Public Procurement: Guidance for the Public Sector at the EPA’s online Circular Economy Conference 2021.

More packaging waste, falling recycling rates for plastic and a heavy reliance on export mean that Ireland is missing opportunities to foster a circular economy. - Sep 9 2021, 10:00 PM
The EPA has today published its latest figures on packaging waste in Ireland. They indicate that Ireland generated over 1.1 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2019, up 11 per cent on 2018.

Know Your NO₂: Become a Citizen Scientist and measure air pollution in Dublin - Aug 23 2021, 11:00 AM
Today the EPA and the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce launched a Citizen Science project to gather new data on the quality of the air we breathe in Dublin. The Clean Air Together project is looking for 1,000 Dublin citizens to help measure air pollution in their local area.

The evidence is clear, global climate change means Ireland is warmer and wetter - Aug 11 2021, 10:50 PM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Met Éireann (MÉ) and the Marine Institute (MI) have published a report on “The Status of Ireland’s Climate”.

EPA statement on the publication of the IPCC Working Group 1 report: 9th August 2021 - Aug 9 2021, 3:30 PM
The EPA welcomes the publication of the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The report reaffirms and strengthens the findings in the previous reports on the human impacts on climate change.

EPA announces draft National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027 is now open for public consultation. - Jul 16 2021, 10:55 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published the draft National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2001-2007 and associated Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. These documents are open for public consultation until 17 September 2021.

Urgent action needed to curb nitrogen pollution in Ireland’s waters, says EPA - Jul 14 2021, 12:02 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Water Quality in 2020: An Indicators Report which provides an assessment of the quality of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, estuaries and groundwaters.

Stretch out and save €700 this summer, says EPA - Jul 8 2021, 11:00 AM
As the country prepares for an outdoor summer of picnics and barbeques, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new campaign to encourage people to reduce their food waste, highlighting simple food storage steps to make their fresh food last longer.

Fixing septic tanks that fail inspection is a priority, says EPA - Jun 29 2021, 11:45 PM
The EPA today released the report Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2020. This is a review of 809 inspections of septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems in 2020.

EPA survey highlights need for everyone to do a simple radon test in their homes - Jun 24 2021, 11:00 AM
A survey exploring Irish attitudes towards radiation found that 28 per cent of people are concerned about radiation. In Ireland, radon accounts for more than half of our radiation exposure.

Ireland will not meet its 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Action is needed now to meet 2030 EU targets - Jun 22 2021, 1:00 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its Greenhouse Gas emissions projections for the period 2020-2040, which will form part of the discussions at the EPA Climate Conference taking place tomorrow.

EPA announces €625,000 funding opportunity for innovative Irish businesses in the Circular Economy - Jun 17 2021, 11:00 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today launches its €625,000 funding opportunity for Irish enterprises to innovate, demonstrate and implement circular economy approaches in their business models.

Ireland continues to be in non-compliance with the EU National Emissions Ceiling Directive - Jun 3 2021, 11:00 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published a compliance assessment for emissions of five key air pollutants which impact air quality, health and the environment.

New Website Helps People Make Informed Environmental Choices - Jun 1 2021, 11:00 AM
In the lead up to World Environment Day on the 5th June, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its new website www.epa.ie.

€10.5 million funding for research to support the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland - May 19 2021, 11:00 AM
The EPA is seeking proposals from the research community to help address climate change and other emerging and complex environmental problems.

Bathing water quality continues to improve but pollution incidents affect some beaches - May 12 2021, 12:01 AM
The EPA has today published the Bathing Water in Ireland report for 2020 which sets out the quality of bathing water at our beaches.

The story of disposable face masks – video claims top prize in the EPA’s The Story of Your Stuff 2021 competition - Apr 21 2021, 12:30 PM
A video that creatively examines the environmental life cycle of disposable face masks has won the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) The Story of Your Stuff 2021 competition.

New Director Joins EPA Board - Apr 19 2021, 11:10 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to welcome Sharon Finegan onto the EPA Board. Sharon took up her new position as Director of the Office of Environmental Sustainability on the 19 April 2021.

LIFE EMERALD – Improving Our Understanding of Ireland’s Air Quality - Apr 14 2021, 3:48 PM
The EPA has commenced work on a new 3-year EU part funded project entitled LIFE Emerald - “Emissions Modelling and Forecasting of Air in Ireland”. The project proposes to greatly improve publicly available air quality information and raise awareness around the topic of Irish air quality.

Ireland’s power generation and industrial emissions drop by 6.4 percent in 2020 - Apr 13 2021, 11:00 AM
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 2020.

More action is needed by Local Authorities to protect Air and Water Quality warns EPA - Mar 11 2021, 11:00 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today released its report on local authority environmental enforcement activities for 2019.

EPA Climate Change Lecture: Direct the Money- How does finance drive a climate neutral economy and society? - Feb 23 2021, 11:00 AM
Dr Kirsten Dunlop, Chief Executive EIT Climate-KIC will present the next EPA Climate Change Lecture, as part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action. This virtual event will take place on Wednesday 24th February at 7.15pm.

EPA continued to provide essential environmental enforcement activities during the Covid-19 pandemic using innovative approaches - Feb 17 2021, 11:00 AM
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its annual summary report on the enforcement activities carried out in 2020, along with the list of sites which were designated as a National Priority Site during the year.

EPA survey shows 84 per cent of people say access to nature was important for mental health in 2020 - Feb 12 2021, 11:00 AM
The EPA today published its 2020 Year in Review report which highlights key activities throughout the year

Athbhreithniú an GCC ar an mBliain, 2020 - Feb 12 2021, 9:50 AM
D’fhoilsigh an GCC a thuarascáil Athbhreithniú an GCC ar an mBliain, 2020 inniu, ina leagtar béim ar phríomhghníomhaíochtaí le linn na bliana.

The quality of drinking water in private water supplies is not good enough and is putting health at risk warns EPA - Feb 11 2021, 12:02 AM
The EPA today released the Drinking Water Quality in Private Supplies 2019 report. One million people in Ireland get their drinking water from a private supply and many more drink water from small private supplies like hotels, pubs and restaurants, crèches, nursing homes and national schools in their daily lives.

Ireland’s 2020 greenhouse gas emissions estimated almost 6 per cent lower due to the pandemic - Jan 29 2021, 12:02 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) have jointly released an analysis of the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2020. The estimates show a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of almost 6 per cent in 2020 compared to 2019.

Investigating the long-term impacts of everyday decisions at heart of EPA second-level schools’ competition – The Story of Your Stuff - Jan 13 2021, 11:00 AM
The EPA today launched The Story of Your Stuff, a competition aimed at secondary school students, which seeks to empower young people to make environmentally conscious decisions about their everyday ‘stuff’ and activities.