The EPA is a government agency in the Republic of Ireland.

Mission Statement: "To promote and implement the highest practicable standards of environmental protection and management which embrace the principles of sustainable and balanced development".

What is the EPA and what does it do?

The EPA is an independent statutory body formally established in July 1993. The Agency is different from most other semi-state bodies in having a full time Executive Board consisting of a Director General and four other Directors. All Directors were appointed by the Government following an open competition and screening by a high-powered selection committee representative of the public and private sectors. Ireland was among the first countries in Europe to establish an independent environmental protection organisation with such wide ranging functions. There are four divisions in the organisation: Corporate Affairs, Environmental Management & Planning, Licensing & Control and Environmental Monitoring & Laboratory Services. The EPA operates on a regional structure with headquarters in Wexford, five regional offices (Castlebar, Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny and Monaghan) and four sub-offices (Athlone, Letterkenny, Limerick and Mallow).
Among the functions of the EPA is the co-ordination of environmental research. The EPA is currently implementing and managing a national environmental research programme called the "Environmental Research and Technological Development (ERTDI) Programme 2000-2006" on behalf of the Department of Environment and Local Government. This programme is funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.

For further information on the EPA, see www.epa.ie.

For further information on the EPA's ERTDI Programme, see www.epa.ie/r_d/default.htm.