The EPA has a wide remit and is responsible for a range of tasks relating to the authorisation of activities that could have an impact on the environment or on human health. We carry out monitoring of the quality of our air, our freshwater, groundwater and marine waterbodies and our use of natural resources. Through our research and development programme, we are generating the knowledge and expertise needed to protect and manage Ireland's environment.
This section of our website contains a range of information services to the public on our activities and provides communication and guidance services for our regulated communities.
Play Your Part!
Environment & You
See how you can play your part in protecting our environment.
Industrial activities play an important role in the economic well-being of Ireland contributing to sustainable growth but can also have a significant impact on the environment. Certain industrial activities produce emissions of various substances into the air, water and land. They also generate waste and use resources such as energy and water. The EPA has a wide remit and is responsible for a range of tasks relating to the authorisation of activities that could have an impact on the environment or on human health.
It is essential that economic growth is based on effective regulation that supports the protection and improvement of our environment. The EPA is committed to the enforcement of environmental and radiological legislation in a fair, proportionate and transparent manner.
Fresh, clean water is vital for all life on earth. Ireland has some of the best water quality and cleanest beaches in Europe. Ireland’s climate means that there is usually enough water to meet the needs of its people and the surrounding environment. However, water quality In Ireland is getting worse. Just over half of Ireland’s surface waters are in good condition.
Effective management of the environment is increasingly science-driven. Through our research and development programme, the Environmental Protection Agency is generating the knowledge and expertise needed to protect and manage Ireland's environment.
The EPA carries out rigorous and continuous testing ensuring environmental radiation remains within internationally agreed and legal safety limits. This testing ensures the EPA are quickly made aware of changes in environmental radiation in Ireland and can provide you with health warnings and protection advice if necessary.
A number of topical areas across the EPA have developed FAQ's to assist with the many queries we received.
Popular FAQ's
How do I report complaints through EDEN?
Most licenses don't require reporting to the EPA of each complaint received directly at the facility, but instead require a summary of complaints to be included as part of general licence reporting (e.g. quarterly or annual reports (AER)). So for this reason there is no facility for you to directly report a complaint through the Manage Complaints button in EDEN.
If your licence specifically requires you to report these complaints or if your inspector has told you to do this, you can send complaints in under "Make a Return" button, Document Type "Site Update/Notification", Subtype "other". You may need to check with your inspector to clarify the requirement.
Can I search/filter by date/year?
Currently filtering and reporting functionality is limited in "Manage my Licence" on the EDEN portal.
How do I update an existing incident notification (an incident that I have already logged on AM on EDEN)?
It is important that updates to previously logged incident notifications are done by going back to the original incident notification record and not by creating a new incident record. To do this you should navigate to “Manage Incidents” on Licence page in AM, select the incident record that you want to update and click on “Edit Incident” icon. You will then be presented with a web form to amend or add details to the incident notification. If the particular piece of information that you want to update is not available to on the web form, please use the notes section to enter the details of the update. Files can also be uploaded as part of the incident update.
How do I reply to a Request for Information (RFI)?
RFIs must be replied to by navigating to the original Licensee Return or Complaint record in AM on EDEN. This can be done by going to the “Manage my Licensee Returns” or “Manage Complaints” tab on the licence page in AM opening the relevant record and clicking on the RFI. Alternatively you can go directly to the RFI in the “My Notifications” tab on AM. Replies to RFIs will not be accepted as Licensee Returns.
I want to submit a quarterly monitoring report. Do I have to break it down into separate Returns by emission receptor (eg air, water, sewer etc)?
Yes, monitoring reports need to be broken out into their constituent sections and submitted individually as Licensee Returns. A summary of each set of results reported should be given as part of the return. Failure to do this will result in the Returns being rejected by the EPA.
