Local Authorities Are Raising the Bar on Environmental Enforcement — and Digital Tools Can Take It Further
Local authorities across Ireland are delivering measurable, meaningful improvements in environmental protection — and the latest data shows just how significant that progress has been.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency Local Authority Environmental Enforcement Performance Report 2024, environmental enforcement performance has improved by 20% over the past three years. This represents a sustained and coordinated effort by councils nationwide to strengthen oversight, accountability, and compliance.
A Strong National Effort, Backed by Real Numbers
The scale of work being carried out by local authorities is substantial.
Across Ireland’s 31 local authorities, enforcement teams delivered in 2024 alone:
227,400 environmental inspections
10,700 licence and permit regulatory actions
76,500 responses to environmental complaints
18,050 enforcement actions
414 prosecutions
Delivered by 630 dedicated staff
Crucially, 79% of National Enforcement Priority (NEP) assessments met the required standard, reflecting a broad and consistent improvement in regulatory oversight across multiple environmental areas.
These figures demonstrate not only effort, but effectiveness.
Acknowledging the Challenge Ahead
The EPA report also rightly highlights areas where continued focus is needed, particularly in:
Water quality protection
Wastewater enforcement
Demonstrating outcomes, not just activity
These are complex, system-wide challenges. They involve multiple actors, legacy infrastructure, and increasingly demanding reporting expectations. Addressing them requires not just commitment, but better information and better visibility.
This is where digital systems can make a meaningful difference.
Supporting Local Authorities With Better Data, Not More Burden
Local authorities are already doing the hard work on the ground. The next opportunity lies in reducing administrative friction while strengthening evidence and traceability.
This is exactly where Hub360 is designed to support councils and public bodies.
Hub360 provides local authorities with:
A single, standard digital record of construction material and waste movements
Real-time visibility across sites, contractors, and haulage
Consistent, auditable data that supports enforcement, reporting, and oversight
Reduced reliance on paper dockets, spreadsheets, and retrospective data collection
Rather than adding another system, Hub360 acts as a shared data layer between councils, contractors, and hauliers — helping ensure that enforcement activity is backed by clear, trusted information.
Enabling the Next Phase of Environmental Performance
The improvements highlighted in the EPA report show what local authorities can achieve with focus and leadership.
Digital tools like Hub360 help build on that progress by:
Making compliance easier to demonstrate
Improving traceability of materials and waste
Supporting faster, more confident enforcement decisions
Freeing up skilled staff to focus on outcomes rather than paperwork
For councils and public bodies, this isn’t about change for its own sake — it’s about making already-strong enforcement even more effective.
You can learn more about how Hub360 supports councils and public bodies here:
https://www.hub360.ie/councils-public-bodies