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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

1. Air Quality:
   • Maintain robust inspection campaigns for solid fuels and improve public engagement on air quality issues.
2. Water Quality:
   • Enhance farm inspections and tackle significant pressures like nutrient pollution and misconnections.
3. Waste Management:
   • Strengthen enforcement of new recycling targets and regulations under the Circular Economy framework.
4. 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.