STRIVE Report Series No
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STRIVE Report Series No. 3 Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) 2007-2013 The Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) programme covers the period 2007 to 2013. The Value of Parasitic The programme comprises three key measures: Sustainable Development, Cleaner Production and Hymenoptera as Indicators Environmental Technologies, and A Healthy Environment; together with two supporting measures: EPA Environmental Research Centre (ERC) and Capacity & Capability Building. The seven principal of Biological Diversity thematic areas for the programme are Climate Change; Waste, Resource Management and Chemicals; Water Quality and the Aquatic Environment; Air Quality, Atmospheric Deposition and Noise; Impacts on Biodiversity; Soils and Land-use; and Socio-economic Considerations. In addition, other emerging issues will be addressed as the need arises. The funding for the programme (approximately €100 million) comes from the Environmental Research Sub-Programme of the National Development Plan (NDP), the Inter-Departmental Committee for the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (IDC-SSTI); and EPA core funding and co-funding by STRIVE economic sectors. Environmental Protection The EPA has a statutory role to co-ordinate environmental research in Ireland and is organising and Agency Programme administering the STRIVE programme on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. 2007-2013 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PO Box 3000, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co. Wexford, Ireland t 053 916 0600 f 053 916 0699 LoCall 1890 33 55 99 e [email protected] w http://www.epa.ie Strive Back:SEA ERTDI No18 Reprint 09/04/2008 08:37 Page 1 Environmental Protection Agency An Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is REGULATING IRELAND’S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Is í an Gníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú RIALÚ ASTUITHE GÁIS CEAPTHA TEASA NA HÉIREANN a statutory body responsible for protecting Quantifying Ireland’s emissions of greenhouse gases Comhshaoil (EPA) comhlachta reachtúil a Cainníochtú astuithe gáis ceaptha teasa na the environment in Ireland. We regulate and in the context of our Kyoto commitments. chosnaíonn an comhshaol do mhuintir na tíre hÉireann i gcomhthéacs ár dtiomantas Kyoto. police activities that might otherwise cause Implementing the Emissions Trading Directive, go léir. Rialaímid agus déanaimid maoirsiú ar Cur i bhfeidhm na Treorach um Thrádáil Astuithe, a pollution. We ensure there is solid involving over 100 companies who are major ghníomhaíochtaí a d'fhéadfadh truailliú a bhfuil baint aige le hos cionn 100 cuideachta atá generators of carbon dioxide in Ireland. chruthú murach sin. Cinntímid go bhfuil eolas ina mór-ghineadóirí dé-ocsaíd charbóin in Éirinn. information on environmental trends so that cruinn ann ar threochtaí comhshaoil ionas necessary actions are taken. Our priorities are go nglactar aon chéim is gá. Is iad na TAIGHDE AGUS FORBAIRT COMHSHAOIL protecting the Irish environment and ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT príomh-nithe a bhfuilimid gníomhach leo Taighde ar shaincheisteanna comhshaoil a chomhordú Co-ordinating research on environmental issues ensuring that development is sustainable. ná comhshaol na hÉireann a chosaint agus (cosúil le caighdéan aeir agus uisce, athrú aeráide, (including air and water quality, climate change, cinntiú go bhfuil forbairt inbhuanaithe. bithéagsúlacht, teicneolaíochtaí comhshaoil). The EPA is an independent public body biodiversity, environmental technologies). established in July 1993 under the Is comhlacht poiblí neamhspleách í an Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992. Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil MEASÚNÚ STRAITÉISEACH COMHSHAOIL STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EPA) a bunaíodh i mí Iúil 1993 faoin Its sponsor in Government is the Department Ag déanamh measúnú ar thionchar phleananna agus Assessing the impact of plans and programmes on Acht fán nGníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú chláracha ar chomhshaol na hÉireann (cosúil le of the Environment, Heritage and Local the Irish environment (such as waste management Comhshaoil 1992. Ó thaobh an Rialtais, is í pleananna bainistíochta dramhaíola agus forbartha). Government. and development plans). an Roinn Comhshaoil agus Rialtais Áitiúil a dhéanann urraíocht uirthi. PLEANÁIL, OIDEACHAS AGUS TREOIR CHOMHSHAOIL OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING, EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE Treoir a thabhairt don phobal agus do thionscal ar cheisteanna comhshaoil éagsúla (m.sh., iarratais ar LICENSING Providing guidance to the public and to industry on ÁR bhFREAGRACHTAÍ cheadúnais, seachaint dramhaíola agus rialacháin various environmental topics (including licence We license the following to ensure that their emissions CEADÚNÚ chomhshaoil). applications, waste prevention and environmental do not endanger human health or harm the environment: regulations). Bíonn ceadúnais á n-eisiúint againn i gcomhair na nithe Eolas níos fearr ar an gcomhshaol a scaipeadh (trí seo a leanas chun a chinntiú nach mbíonn astuithe uathu cláracha teilifíse comhshaoil agus pacáistí waste facilities (e.g., landfills, Generating greater environmental awareness ag cur sláinte an phobail ná an comhshaol i mbaol: acmhainne do bhunscoileanna agus do incinerators, waste transfer stations); (through environmental television programmes and mheánscoileanna). large scale industrial activities primary and secondary schools’ resource packs). áiseanna dramhaíola (m.sh., líonadh talún, (e.g., pharmaceutical manufacturing, loisceoirí, stáisiúin aistrithe dramhaíola); gníomhaíochtaí tionsclaíocha ar scála mór (m.sh., BAINISTÍOCHT DRAMHAÍOLA FHORGHNÍOMHACH cement manufacturing, power plants); PROACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT déantúsaíocht cógaisíochta, déantúsaíocht intensive agriculture; Cur chun cinn seachaint agus laghdú dramhaíola trí Promoting waste prevention and minimisation stroighne, stáisiúin chumhachta); the contained use and controlled release chomhordú An Chláir Náisiúnta um Chosc projects through the co-ordination of the National diantalmhaíocht; Dramhaíola, lena n-áirítear cur i bhfeidhm na of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs); Waste Prevention Programme, including input into úsáid faoi shrian agus scaoileadh smachtaithe dTionscnamh Freagrachta Táirgeoirí. large petrol storage facilities. the implementation of Producer Responsibility Orgánach Géinathraithe (GMO); Initiatives. Cur i bhfeidhm Rialachán ar nós na treoracha maidir mór-áiseanna stórais peitreail. le Trealamh Leictreach agus Leictreonach Caite agus NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT Enforcing Regulations such as Waste Electrical and le Srianadh Substaintí Guaiseacha agus substaintí a Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Conducting over 2,000 audits and inspections of dhéanann ídiú ar an gcrios ózóin. Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and substances that FEIDHMIÚ COMHSHAOIL NÁISIÚNTA EPA licensed facilities every year. Plean Náisiúnta Bainistíochta um Dramhaíl deplete the ozone layer. Stiúradh os cionn 2,000 iniúchadh agus cigireacht Overseeing local authorities’ environmental Ghuaiseach a fhorbairt chun dramhaíl ghuaiseach a Developing a National Hazardous Waste Management de áiseanna a fuair ceadúnas ón nGníomhaireacht protection responsibilities in the areas of - air, sheachaint agus a bhainistiú. noise, waste, waste-water and water quality. Plan to prevent and manage hazardous waste. gach bliain. Maoirsiú freagrachtaí cosanta comhshaoil údarás Working with local authorities and the Gardaí to STRUCHTÚR NA GNÍOMHAIREACHTA stamp out illegal waste activity by co-ordinating a MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE OF THE EPA áitiúla thar sé earnáil - aer, fuaim, dramhaíl, dramhuisce agus caighdeán uisce. Bunaíodh an Ghníomhaireacht i 1993 chun comhshaol national enforcement network, targeting offenders, The organisation is managed by a full time Board, Obair le húdaráis áitiúla agus leis na Gardaí chun na hÉireann a chosaint. Tá an eagraíocht á bhainistiú conducting investigations and overseeing consisting of a Director General and four Directors. remediation. stop a chur le gníomhaíocht mhídhleathach ag Bord lánaimseartha, ar a bhfuil Príomhstiúrthóir dramhaíola trí comhordú a dhéanamh ar líonra agus ceithre Stiúrthóir. Prosecuting those who flout environmental law and The work of the EPA is carried out across four offices: damage the environment as a result of their actions. forfheidhmithe náisiúnta, díriú isteach ar chiontóirí, Tá obair na Gníomhaireachta ar siúl trí ceithre Oifig: Office of Climate, Licensing and Resource Use stiúradh fiosrúcháin agus maoirsiú leigheas na An Oifig Aeráide, Ceadúnaithe agus Úsáide Office of Environmental Enforcement bhfadhbanna. MONITORING, ANALYSING AND REPORTING ON THE Acmhainní An dlí a chur orthu siúd a bhriseann dlí comhshaoil Office of Environmental Assessment An Oifig um Fhorfheidhmiúchán Comhshaoil ENVIRONMENT agus a dhéanann dochar don chomhshaol mar Office of Communications and Corporate Services Monitoring air quality and the quality of rivers, thoradh ar a ngníomhaíochtaí. An Oifig um Measúnacht Comhshaoil lakes, tidal waters and ground waters; measuring An Oifig Cumarsáide agus Seirbhísí Corparáide water levels and river flows. The EPA is assisted by an Advisory Committee of twelve MONATÓIREACHT, ANAILÍS AGUS TUAIRISCIÚ AR members who meet several times a year to discuss Independent reporting to inform decision making by AN GCOMHSHAOL Tá Coiste Comhairleach ag an nGníomhaireacht