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Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

The 2024 State of the Environment Report provides an integrated assessment of the overall quality of Ireland’s environment, the pressures being placed on it and current responses to environmental issues.  This report, published every four years and the eighth in the series, covers climate change, air quality, noise, water quality (both inland and in the marine), land use, soil and nature.

New EPA Climate Opinion Maps

Wave 2 of the Climate Change in the Irish Mind study, undertaken in 2023. Newly updated interactive maps of Ireland show national, regional, and county-level data about people’s climate change beliefs, attitudes, policy preferences and behaviours - see where your county stands on climate action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Popular FAQ's

When is the application of fertiliser (chemical, organic fertiliser (other than farmyard manure) and farmyard manure) to land prohibited?

The periods when the application of fertilisers to land is prohibited are specified in Schedule 4 of the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014 as follows:

1. In counties Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow, the period during which the application of fertilisers to land is prohibited is the period from—

(a) 15 September to 12 January in the case of the application of chemical fertiliser

(b) 15 October to 12 January in the case of the application of organic fertiliser (other than farmyard manure)

(c) 1 November to 12 January in the case of the application of farmyard manure.

2. In counties Clare, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath, the period during which the application of fertilisers to land is prohibited is the period from—

(a) 15 September to 15 January in the case of the application of chemical fertiliser

(b) 15 October to 15 January in the case of the application of organic fertiliser (other than farmyard manure)

(c) 1 November to 15 January in the case of the application of farmyard manure.

3. In counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and Monaghan, the period during which the application of fertilisers to land is prohibited is the period from—

(a) 15 September to 31 January in the case of the application of chemical fertiliser

(b) 15 October to 31 January in the case of the application of organic fertiliser (other than farmyard manure)

(c) 1 November to 31 January in the case of the application of farmyard manure.
I have observed a contractor spraying pesticides in a public area not taking any safety precautions to protect the public - who to contact

You will need to contact the Pesticide Registration & Control Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine for advice on this matter.

Further information is available here: http://www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/sud/professionaluserssprayeroperators/
Disposing of asbestos waste

Asbestos waste is hazardous and must be disposed of properly. Before any demolition work, identify which waste facility is licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for disposal of asbestos waste.

Hazardous waste transfer stations can accept asbestos waste and then arrange to have it disposed of at an appropriate facility here or abroad.
Does the EPA provide funding to PhD students?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does provide funding in support of Doctoral Scholarships. All research funding provided by the EPA, including that for doctoral scholarships, is awarded in response to calls for proposals issued by EPA STRIVE Programme. Calls for Doctoral scholarships are usually issued in March every year. Doctoral Scholarship proposals are normally submitted by College supervisors who if successful in their application then recruit a student to undertake the research. Any call for proposals will be advertised in the Research section of the EPA website and a notification will be sent to all 3rd level research offices.
Are there any grants available to improve the quality of my well?

Yes. Grants are available from your local authority where improvement works are necessary to address a serious deficiency in the quality of water. The grant can cover the drilling of a new well, rehabilitating an existing well, construction of pumps house and associated works or the provision of treatment. You should go to your local authority website for more details on the application process.