EPA Report Expresses Concern Over Future Of Ireland's Environment

Ireland's biodiversity is at risk and the outlook for the environment is "not optimistic", according to a new report.

The Environmental Protection Agency says the existing national measures haven't been successful in tackling a number of environmental issues.

The report from the EPA, stretching to almost 500 pages, is a damning assessment of the current state of the environment.

We haven't met our targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air quality in some urban areas doesn't meet global standards and 85 per cent of EU-listed habitats are in an unfavourable condition.

There's also been a 96% reduction in the number of very clean rivers over the last 30 years.

The report says we need to massively reduce the one million tonnes of food waste every year, invest in essential water services infrastructure and designate more marine areas as protected areas

The Environment Minister Eamon Ryan says he's ashamed by the report and that an all-island plan will be developed to tackle some of the issues raised.