Local Authority Environmental Enforcement Performance Framework

A revised Local Authority Performance Framework was implemented by the EPA in 2021 to coordinate and focus the environmental enforcement activity of the 31 local authorities to better align with achieving environmental outcomes under set national enforcement priorities.

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 revised Local Authority Performance Framework was implemented in 2021, which assesses local authority delivery of environmental outcomes.
• Under the EPA’s Local Authority Performance Framework, 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 2021 are shown in the table 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.

Read our latest reports 

At the end of the year, each local authority submits data on their completed activities and information on notable achievements during the year.  The EPA publishes regular reports on the outcomes of these activities by all the local authorities around the country.