The Environmental Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 will also provide more options for the EPA to efficiently regulate lower risk activities and minor changes to licences.

The bill aims to provide more certainty around the timeframe for decisions on applications for EPA licences for the energy, food, pharma, chemicals, waste and other industrial sectors, complementing the statutory timelines being introduced under the Planning and Development Bill 2023.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) says the bill aims to facilitate more sustainable development and more sustainable economic activity in the Irish economy.

“Shortening and providing certainty around the length of time it takes to secure a decision on industrial and waste licence applications will support investment decisions to develop the infrastructure required to achieve a circular economy, help to ensure our energy security and facilitate environmental improvements to industrial installations,” it said.

Certain industrial activities produce emissions of various substances into the air, water and land. They also generate waste and use resources such as energy and water. The EPA is responsible for issuing licences to prevent and control pollution from industrial and waste activities.

The general scheme for this bill will be made available on the DECC website in the coming days.