Date released: August 08, 2024
8 August 2024: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published its Annual Report and Accounts 2023. It coincides with the thirtieth anniversary of the EPA’s establishment and outlines EPA activity in 2023.
The Annual Report and Accounts for 2023 provides an overview of EPA’s role as a regulator, EPA’s monitoring and assessment of the environment, and insights and analysis on climate action and sustainable production and consumption. Commenting on the annual report, Laura Burke, Director General, said:
“Whilst the remit of the EPA has grown exponentially since we were established thirty years ago, the core of what we do remains the same – we regulate activities that have the potential for significant pollution. We produce timely, reliable, trustworthy data on Ireland’s environment. We work with others towards better outcomes for the environment. The EPA’s role to protect, improve and restore our environment is more relevant than ever.”
Ms. Burke added that:
"2023 showed mixed results with regard to the environment. EPA data showed that Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 were at their lowest level in over three decades, however we need to build on this now to meet our national and international commitments. The EPA identified that whilst drinking water quality is very high, the resilience of public drinking water supplies isn’t robust enough and unmonitored private drinking supplies are a potential risk to public health. It was also disappointing to report during the year that there has been no overall improvement in our water quality with average nitrate and phosphorous levels largely unchanged."
Some highlights from EPA activities in 2023 include:
The EPA Annual Report and Accounts 2023 is available in both English and Irish on the EPA website.
