River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021

tipping in recent years which reflects the situation nationally. In recognition of this Clare County Council applied for and secured an allocation of €59k under the Anti-Dumping Initiative for 2019 to deal with problematic areas of the County. The 2020 budget reflects additional Community Warden resourcing which means that each Municipal District has a specific resource to address complaints. The waste enforcement team will continue to adapt to priorities as they arise.

The adoption of the Waste Management Bye-laws enables the Council to conduct routine inspections and surveys of both domestic and commercial properties to ensure compliance with various waste management legislation.

As required annually by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Clare County Council will develop and submit an Environmental Inspection Plan for 2020 (RMCEI) which will detail the framework of environmental inspection targets to be undertaken during the year. The Council will also submit a report on its performance against targets stated in the 2019 RMCEI plan in relation to the achievement of environmental objectives and outcomes.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is continuing its’ Enforcement Performance Assessment’ framework which measures and reports on local authority effectiveness in meeting environmental enforcement targets. Funding will be required to maintain targets set out under the Framework.

Budget 2020 provides for the resources considered necessary to deliver on the targets set out in the annual Inspection Plan as well as unplanned inspections arising from complaints received or incidents of environmental pollution.

It is hoped that the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) will continue to support Clare County Council by providing an annual waste enforcement grant of €403k which will assist the Council in maintaining current high standards in environmental enforcement. This grant funds the multi disciplinary waste enforcement team, which investigates illegal dumping, monitors waste facility permits and certificates, and oversees compliance with all relevant regulatory waste legislation. However a review of this grant is underway by the DCCAE and Clare would receive significantly less than its current allocation under the new proposed grant scheme.

River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021

The second cycle of the River Basin Management Plan is in operation and represents a new approach which treats Ireland as a single River Basin District. New regional governance and delivery structures have been implemented under which the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office (LAWCO) and the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) were established for implementation of the plan.