The Environmental Protection Agency is at the front line of environmental protection and policing. We ensure that Ireland’s environment is protected, and we monitor changes in environmental trends to detect early warning signs of neglect or deterioration. Protecting our environment is a huge responsibility, and we work with a number of organisations that carry out specific environmental functions. Since August 2014, we are also responsible for ensuring that the people of Ireland are protected from the harmful effects of radiation. The EPA is an independent public body established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992. The other main instruments from which we derive our mandate are the Waste Management Act, 1996, and the Protection of the Environment Act, 2003 and Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. We have a wide range of functions to protect the environment, and our primary responsibilities include:

• Environmental licensing Enforcement of environmental law
• Environmental planning, education and guidance
• Monitoring, analysing and reporting on the environment
• Regulating Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions
• Environmental research development
• Strategic environmental assessment
• Waste management
• Radiological protection

The EPA provides environmental data, assessments and evidence to inform decision making and implements effective regulation and environmental compliance systems – while working with others to advocate for a clean, healthy and well protected environment and sustainable environmental behaviour.

A guide to the structure and functions of the EPA

The EPA Ireland collaborates closely with the Rediscovery Center, the national centre for the circular economy and supporting the development of the circular economy and advocates for a more resilient, equitable society. Case study LINK