Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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155. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if any review of EPA operations has been conducted with a view to improving the efficiency of the organisation; his views on whether the EPA would be able to carry out its duties more efficiently if all of its functions were in the one department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59496/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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A review of the EPA was undertaken by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), using a framework developed by the OECD to assess and strengthen the organisational performance and governance of regulators. This review examined the EPA’s institutional and organisational set-up, including how it assesses its own performance, and compared the Agency’s governance arrangements against the Best Practice Principles and practices of other OECD Countries. The OECD report, 'Driving Performance at Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency,' was published in May 2020 and is available at www.oecd.org/gov/regulatory-policy/driving-performance-at-ireland-s-environmental-protection-agency-009a0785-en.htm The review reported that Ireland’s EPA is a trusted and respected body for environmental and radiological protection that is recognised for its scientific integrity. Environmental protection policy falls primarily under the remit my Department, in conjunction with the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) which has primary responsibility for water protection policy. The EPA is a key regulator in both these sectors.  In July 2021, my Department and the DHLGH agreed a revised Performance Delivery Agreement (PDA) with the EPA.  The PDA, which is reviewed annually, defines an agreed level of performance with the aim of providing efficient and effective delivery of public services to protect and improve our environment.