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Make an environmental complaint

The EPA is committed to protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of pollution. As part of this commitment, we provide a simple system for members of the public to make complaints about environmental pollution, disturbance or damage.

Environmental Complaints

Members of the public can make complaints to the county or city council, the EPA or other authority when they suspect that the activities of businesses or individuals are, or may be, causing pollution.

Who should I contact?

Contact the person or business causing the problem

If you come across an environmental problem, the quickest way to fix it is to contact the person or business you think is causing the problem. They may not be aware of the problem or its effects and may be happy to fix it.

If you contact them, we suggest that you:

Outline the issue to them

Explain how you would like to see it resolved

Ask them to specify a timescale for this to be achieved

Ask to be informed when the work has been completed

Contact the relevant public body

If you do not want to contact the person or business causing the problem, you should make a complaint to your local council or the EPA. This will depend on who is causing the problem:

Your local council is responsible for dealing with complaints that do not involve a site regulated by the EPA.

If the issue involves an EPA regulated site, the local authority will pass on your complaint to the EPA for a response.

If you know that the source of the problem is a site that operates under an EPA licence, permit or authorisation, contact the EPA.

If the issue does not involve an EPA regulated site, we will pass on your complaint to the local authority for a response

If you don’t know who is responsible, contact your local authority as your first port of call

You can also make a complaint about the performance of a local council.

Make a complaint to your local authority

For most environmental complaints, including:

Illegal dumping or waste

Smoke, odours, or dust

Noise nuisance

Local water pollution

Contact your local City or County Council(https://www.localgov.ie/find-my-local-authority)

All local authorities outside of Dublin City Council (Citizen Hub Platform)(https://citizenhub.dublincity.ie/MyServices) support reporting via the "See It? Say It!" smartphone app.

Apple iPhone: Download from the Apple App Store(https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/see-it-say-it/id573916383)

Android smartphone: Download from the Android Play Store(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ie.epa.seeitsayit)

Call the National Environmental Complaints Line (NECL), which directs complaints to the appropriate local authority:

Tel : 1800 365 123, open 24-hours, 7-days per week.

Make a complaint to Uisce Éireann (Irish Water)

Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) manages and delivers public drinking water and waste water services in Ireland.

Contact Uisce Éireann if you wish to complain about these areas.

Uisce Éireann

Tel : 1800 278 278 Email : operations@water.ie Web : www.water.ie/contact(https://www.water.ie/contact/)

If you are unhappy with the response you get from Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) or if your issue remains, contact us in the EPA.