Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

476 Chapter 17: Conclusions INDICATOR CURRENT ASSESSMENT OUTLOOK NOTES Water Overall current assessment for water is ‘poor’ (the same as in 2020). Trends remain mixed, with no net improvement in river or lake water quality in recent years, a sharp decline in the number of monitored estuaries in satisfactory ecological condition and continued direct discharges of raw or inadequately treated sewage to water from 19 agglomerations. Significant challenges remain for achieving full compliance with relevant EU obligations and national policy objectives. Circular economy and waste The overall current assessment for the circular economy and waste is poor (the same as in 2020) but progress is being made in a number of areas to improve performance. Waste generation continues to grow, in absolute and per capita terms, and Ireland remains overly reliant on export markets for recycling and for treating municipal residual waste. Recycling rates for municipal and plastic packaging waste streams are at risk and need to increase urgently to achieve 2025 targets. Recent interventions, such as the Deposit Return Scheme, statutory roll-out of the organic waste collection service, recovery levy and national end-of waste and by-product decisions, are positive developments but the effects of these remain to be seen. The circular material use rates remains very low by comparison to the European average and Ireland needs to address specific sectoral challenges to accelerate moving from a linear to a circular economy. SUMMARY OF CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE, POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION IN IRELAND Very poor – significant environmental and/or compliance challenges to address Poor – environmental and/or compliance challenges to address Moderate – on track generally/local or occasional challenges Good – mainly achieving objectives Very good – full achieving objectives. OUTLOOK OF CURRENT PROSPECTS OF MEETING POLICY OBJECTIVES AND/OR TARGETS Largely not on track to meet policy objectives and targets. Significant challenges to achieving full compliance remain. Systemic and transformative change needed. Partially on track to achieving full compliance or measures in place or planned that will improve the situation. Outlook is dependent on existing and planned actions, measures and plans being fully implemented and effective. Trajectory improving but not yet on track to achieving full compliance. Measures in place and planned provide possibility of meeting policy objectives and targets.