Local Authority Environmental Enforcement Performance Framework

The Local Authority Performance Framework coordinates and focuses the environmental enforcement activity of the 31 local authorities to align with achieving environmental outcomes under set National Enforcement Priorities (NEPs) (see Figure 1). These NEPs are set for a 3-year period. The current cycle runs from 2025-2027.

How the Framework operates 

• The EPA has a supervisory role in relation to the performance by local authorities of their statutory environmental protection duties.
• The EPA’s Local Authority Performance Framework assesses local authority delivery of environmental outcomes.
• There are 20 National Enforcement Priorities (NEPs) which focus on delivering positive environmental outcomes for air quality, water quality and waste management. The NEPs for 2025-2027 are shown below.
• The NEPs are categorised under four themes; governance processes; waste; water and air and noise. Each NEP is scored according to a four-point scale; Excellent, Strong, Moderate or Limited. Achieving a Strong or Excellent score demonstrates that the local authority has a comprehensive system in place for the detection and follow-up of environmental enforcement activities, and that progress was made towards an environmental outcome under that priority.

Figure 1: National Enforcement Priorities 2025 - 2027