A guide, for business and institutions, on supports available in Ireland for developing resource efficient practices.

Supports for business and institutions in the development and implementation of Green Business strategies are available from a range of state agencies in Ireland. This guide provides a brief overview of services and supports available from the four principal agencies active in this area: the environmental Protection Agency, the Sustainable Energy Authrority of Ireland, Enterprise...

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EPA new web portal for Licensees and Local Authorities

The EPA have launched the new ALDER/EDEN web portal for Licensees and Local Authorities. The purpose of ALDER to remove the need for paper based communications for many activities and will benefit both licensees and the EPA. The functionality of the ALDER online web portal will be developed and rolled out in phases. The first...

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EIB lending €200m for Irish water projects

The European Investment Bank is providing a €200m loan to Ireland’s Water Service Investment Programme (WSIP) to support 23 water investment projects across Ireland. The projects include provision of new water mains, water and wastewater treatment facilities and reservoirs, as well as measures to improve water conservation. The responsibility for water services delivery is moving...

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Wastewater legislation for single houses – Regulation of domestic wastewater treatment systems

The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DoECLG) has published the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 to regulate wastewater discharges from all homes that are not connected to the public sewer network. This is as a result of a European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgment made against Ireland in 2009 (Case C-188/08) in relation to...

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Public Consulted On Draft Shannon Estuary Plan

A series of public consultations are open to the public on a major strategic plan for the future development and management of marine-related industry and tourism along Ireland’s largest estuary, the Shannon Estuary. The Draft Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) for the Shannon Estuary has been commissioned by a multi-agency steering group comprising Clare County Council...

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Grant for Group Sewerage Schemes

The Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, announced on 17 December 2012 that he is increasing the grant for Group Sewerage Schemes to €6,500 per house or 75% of the cost of the scheme, whichever is the lesser. The current rate of grant available for group sewerage schemes is €2,031.58 per house or 75% of...

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Additional finance for micro-enterprises in Ireland

The European Investment Fund and Microfinance Ireland have signed a guarantee agreement aimed at supporting micro-enterprises and self-employed entrepreneurs in Ireland. The guarantee is given under Progress Microfinance, which is managed by the European Investment Fund on behalf of the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. Microfinance Ireland can provide loans of less than...

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Irish presidency unveils environmental programme

Ireland has named securing agreement with MEPs on Europe’s seventh environmental action plan (7EAP) as the top environmental priority of its EU six-month presidency term. The Irish presidency also aims to ask for council conclusions on a new EU climate adaptation strategy, which the European Commission is likely to bring forward soon following on from...

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Drinking Water: Quality, Regulations, Measurements

The Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption was implemented in Ireland by S.I. No. 278/2007  – European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations 2007 These Regulations prescribe quality standards to be applied, and related supervision and enforcement procedures in relation to supplies of drinking water, including requirements as to sampling frequency,...

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Licenses Across Key Sectors of the Irish Economy

As part of the Action Plans for Jobs 2012 Forfás has reviewed 159 licences for key sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, food and drink, retail, hospitality and leisure, waste management, road haulage and construction. The key findings from the review include the relevant licensing authorities to: Proceed towards development of integrated licensing systems for retail,...

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