Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland (EPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland (EPA) is an independent public body. EPA’s mission is to promote and implement the highest practicable standards of environmental protection and management that embrace the principles of sustainable and balanced development. The main responsibilities of the EPA currently include:
- Monitoring and reporting on quality of environment;
- License and regulation of industries, waste disposal operations and large fuel storage installations;
- Implementation and enforcement of regulations on the use and release of genetically modified organisms; and
- Funding and coordination of environmental research.
Effective management of the environment is increasingly science-driven. Through its research and development programme, the Environmental Protection Agency is generating the knowledge and expertise needed to protect and manage Ireland's environment. Over the period 2007-2013, the EPA’s research programme STRIVE has provided approximately 100 M€ funding for environmental research and development to colleges, research organisations and private companies. The STRIVE programme is managed by the EPA on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. The EPA Research Programme (2014-2020) will aim at maintaining a vibrant and relevant environmental research programme to influence policy, identify pressures and develop solutions to environmental challenges. The Research Programme will be focused on addressing the major environmental challenges of Climate Change, Water and Sustainable Environment. The EPA currently runs a national programme supporting applied and/or basic research on water sciences and technologies, and has participated/participates in water related networks and projects in the Framework Programme. Among them, SKEP (FP6), ENVHEALTH ERA-NET (FP7), CIRCLE2 (FP7) and CIRCLE (FP6), WatEUr CSA (FP7) and WaterWorks2014 (H2020). The EPA is involved in the Water JPI (co-chairing the JPI since November 2014) and also in the JPI Connecting Climate Knowledge for Europe (CliK’EU).
Website: www.epa.ie
Matt CROWE | ||
Function | Director | ![]() |
Division | Office of Evidence and Assessment | |
name.surname(at)epa.ie | ||
Phone | + 353 539160600 | |
Areas of expertise |
Dr. Crowe is currently Director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Evidence and Assessment which includes the EPA’s programmes for water management, environmental research, environmental informatics, climate science, strategic environmental assessment, state of the environment assessment and reporting and liaison with the European Environment Agency. He holds a B.Sc. and Ph.D. in biochemistry from University College, Dublin and has worked with the Irish EPA since 1995. |
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Role in Water JPI activities | Governing Board representative - voting member |
Noreen LAYDEN | |
Role in Water JPI activities | Supporting WaterWorks2014, WaterWorks2015, WaterWorks2017 and IC4WATER related activities. |
Lisa SHEILS | ||
Function | EPA Research Programme | ![]() |
name.surname(at)epa.ie | ||
Phone | + 353 1 206 6947 | |
Areas of expertise | Lisa Sheils has been working in the EPA Catchments Unit and the EPA Research programme since 2006. She holds qualifications in Environmental Science (BSc Hons), and Masters in Soil Science and Physics, Geographical Information Sciences (GIS), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Project Management. She has managed the EPA Water, Environmental Technologies & Cleaner Production programmes in the past. She also worked as Project Coordinator in the South Eastern River Basin District (SERBD), in the first Water Framework Directive (WFD) cycle. She also worked in GIS with Waterford City Council in water conservation management and for many years as a Water/Pollution Inspector and Catchment Manager for Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). Previously she carried out soil research with CIPAV and CIAT in Colombia, South America and Climate Change research in the University of Lisbon, Portugal. | |
Role in Water JPI activities | Supporting WaterWorks2014, WaterWorks2015, WaterWorks2017 and IC4WATER related activities. |