Meath named one of Ireland’s best councils for environmental enforcement
Meath County Council has been named one of the top-performing local authorities in Ireland for environmental enforcement, according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA’s Environmental Enforcement Performance Report 2024 identifies the council as one of only three nationwide to achieve the highest performance rating, highlighting strong results in areas including waste enforcement, water quality protection, air pollution monitoring and noise control.
Chief executive Kieran Kehoe said the recognition is a “very positive endorsement” of the work being carried out by council staff.
“Environmental enforcement is complex, demanding and often unseen work, and these results reflect the strong commitment of our teams to protecting the environment, safeguarding public health, and delivering real outcomes for communities across County Meath,” he said.
“Strong environmental enforcement is a key enabler of the Council’s Climate Action Plan and Corporate Plan, supporting our objectives to reduce emissions, protect natural resources and build more resilient communities.”
He added that the council’s performance demonstrates that “targeted enforcement, effective inter-departmental collaboration and consistent engagement with communities can deliver meaningful and lasting environmental improvements”.
“Meath County Council remains fully committed to maintaining these high standards and to supporting national climate and environmental objectives into the future,” Mr Kehoe said.
The EPA assessment evaluates how local authorities deliver National Enforcement Priorities under its performance framework, with a focus on measurable environmental outcomes.
The 2024 report marks the final year of the EPA’s 2022–2024 assessment cycle and highlights progress nationally in improving environmental compliance and enforcement standards.
The council said it will continue to prioritise environmental enforcement as a “core public service”, supporting climate action, protecting natural resources and ensuring “a safe, healthy environment” for communities across the county.