EPA - Ireland's Environment 2016

Ireland’s Environment – An Assessment 2016

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The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has estimated that the

number of one-off houses in 2011 stood at approximately

433,564. The number of dwellings with septic tanks built

between 2006 and 2011 fell from 50,011 in 2006 to

30,895 in 2011; the number with other individual systems

rose from 16,689 to 19,074 over the same period. Between

2002 and 2011, the proportion of houses built that are

stand-alone decreased from 28.1% in 2002, to 27.1% in

2006 and further, to 26.3%, in 2011 (CSO, 2012).

Strategic Planning and Sector Issues

Population growth

Population increase and settlement growth are the

principal causes of land use changes in urban areas.

This has implications for soil quality, climate, biodiversity

integrity, air quality, flood risk and water quality. Ireland’s

population is projected to reach 5.1 million in 2031, with

the most significant increase predicted for the Greater

Dublin Area (CSO, 2013). Forward strategic planning and

new infrastructure are needed to ensure that growth

is sustainable and does not add to the environmental

pressures that are already evident in delivering drinking

water, treating urban waste water and tackling air

pollution.

Agriculture growth

Achieving the aims of Food Wise 2025 (DAFM, 2015b),

without damaging the environment upon which

agriculture depends will be a significant challenge. Many

significant actions are included in this plan, which relate

to sustainable food production and management and

protection of soil quality. This key challenge for Ireland’s

environment is covered in more detail in the section on

“Economy and Agriculture”, but it is clear that the health

of both our soils and our agriculture sector are intrinsically

linked and dependent on one another.

Decline in peatlands

Table 7.2 shows that, between 2007 and 2013, there was

a decline in the range, area, structure and functions and

status of Ireland’s peatlands (DAHG, 2014).

According to the National Peatlands Strategy, only 10%

of the original raised bog and 28% of the original blanket

peatlands resource are suitable for conservation (as natural

peatlands). Land drainage, reclamation for agricultural

purposes and peat extraction have all impacted peatlands.

The damage caused by these activities also has a negative

effect on climate mitigation, as it prevents carbon

sequestration and reduces the available carbon stock as,

when drained, peat oxidises and CO

is released. The

emergence of climate change as a key social, economic

and environmental issue has brought fresh impetus to the

need to preserve remaining functional peatlands and to

accelerate the restoration of damaged peatlands.

Table 7.2

Changes in Peatlands Between 2007 and 2013 (Source: collated from DAHG, 2014)

Active raised bog

Degraded raised bog

Active blanket bog

Conclusion

2007

2013

2007

2013

2007

2013

Range

Area

Structures and functions

Future prospects

Overall status

Status code:

= Bad = Inadequate = Favourable