Key Messages
- Strengths:
- Local authorities improved waste enforcement significantly, particularly in targeted inspections of waste operators, leading to better compliance and detection of illegal activities.
- Eight local authorities (Kildare, Meath, Dublin City, Monaghan, Carlow, Cork County, Donegal, Wicklow) achieved “Strong” or “Excellent” scores in 17 or more of the 20 National Enforcement Priorities (NEPs).
- Weaknesses:
- Performance in water, air, and noise enforcement was inadequate, with insufficient risk-based inspections and follow-ups.
- Six local authorities (Westmeath, Galway City, Waterford, Wexford, Sligo, Kilkenny) scored poorly, achieving “Strong” or “Excellent” in fewer than 10 NEPs.
- Recommendations:
- Increase prioritization of air and water quality initiatives.
- Enhance farm inspections to meet National Agricultural Inspection Programme (NAIP) targets.
- Fully implement Noise Action Plans and focus on waste recovery and recycling regulations.
Overview of National Enforcement Priorities (NEPs)
- Encompass four themes: Waste, Water, Air & Noise, and Governance Processes.
- NEPs are scored using a four-point scale: Excellent, Strong, Moderate, Limited.
Performance Highlights for 2023
- Improvements:
- Average number of NEPs achieving “Strong” or “Excellent” scores increased from 12 in 2022 to 14 in 2023.
- Notable gains in waste enforcement activities and farm inspections.
- Deficiencies:
- Persistent gaps in air and water enforcement and lack of consistent implementation of governance processes.
Sectoral Analysis
- Waste Enforcement:
- Strong efforts to combat illegal waste activities, including dismantling unauthorized sites and improving End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) management.
- Challenges remain in the full enforcement of construction and demolition waste standards.
- Donegal County Council excelled in expanding 3-bin household waste services.
- Water Enforcement:
- Progress in agricultural inspections but higher non-compliance rates noted (37% in 2023 vs. 31% in 2022).
- Variable performance in addressing discharge licensing and misconnections impacting water quality.
- Effective local initiatives, like Dublin’s Urban Rivers LIFE (DURL) project, showed success in improving water quality.
- Air & Noise Enforcement:
- Increased solid fuel inspections and enforcement campaigns targeting unapproved products.
- Lack of robust air quality data utilization for targeted interventions.
- Minimal progress on Noise Action Plans, except for notable strides by Limerick City & County Council.
- Governance Processes:
- Improved RMCEI planning and complaint handling systems.
- The adoption of the National Environmental Management Information System (NEMIS) promises greater data standardization.
Statistical Overview
- Environmental staff increased from 522 in 2022 to 547 in 2023.
- Inspections rose to 212,100, and complaints reached 70,300.
- Enforcement actions (17,800) remained stable; prosecutions declined to 470 from 621 in 2022.
EPA’s Supervisory Role
- Conducted audits for 21 local authorities in 2023, focusing on consistent enforcement.
- Identified key improvement areas, including inspection frequencies, risk-based targeting, and better record-keeping.
Future Focus Areas
- Air Quality:
- Maintain robust inspection campaigns for solid fuels and improve public engagement on air quality issues.
- Water Quality:
- Enhance farm inspections and tackle significant pressures like nutrient pollution and misconnections.
- Waste Management:
- Strengthen enforcement of new recycling targets and regulations under the Circular Economy framework.
- Noise Pollution:
- Accelerate implementation of Noise Action Plans, focusing on urban and transport-related noise mitigation.
This comprehensive report reflects both progress and ongoing challenges in environmental enforcement, highlighting the need for targeted improvements in resource allocation, strategic enforcement, and inter-agency collaboration.