Clare County Council is being called on to bolster its resources in order to improve environmental protection practices in this county.
The local authority has been ranked the fourth-lowest performing council nationwide, in terms of achieving environmental outcomes set out in the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Enforcement Priorities.
The agency’s new report reveals only three local authorities, namely Sligo, Galway City and Leitrim, met the required standard on fewer NEPs than Clare last year.
Clare County Council’s performance was deemed ‘excellent’ or ‘strong’ in respect of just 11 of 19 areas in which it was assessed.
The category in which the local authority excelled to the greatest extent was planning for the National Enforcement Priorities with regard to environmental resource planning, environmental outcomes, and review and reporting.
Its performance in this area was described as ‘excellent’.
The council was marked as ‘moderate’ for four NEPs however, four of which were under the theme of ‘Water Enforcement’ with three coming under ‘Air and Noise Enforcement’ and one concerning ‘Waste Enforcement’.
Cratloe farmer and former Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association General Secretary, Eddie Punch insists the agriculture sector can’t be told to bear the blame for these issues.
To improve on this years results, local authorities are being told to “prioritise and resource” the delivery of the NEPs in a number of ways.
These include carrying out more farm inspections, prioritise the inspection and enforcement of discharge licences, and continue inspecting solid fuel producers, retailers and distributors.
They’re also being urged to reduce the public’s exposure to transport noise, and target waste enforcement actions at household and commercial sites.
Scariff-based Futureproof Clare spokesperson, Sinead Sheehan believes a cross-agency approach should be taken, rather than focusing on one specific sector.
