Complaints about noise and smells associated with industry have fallen, and most companies are complying very well with pollution control legislation, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
This is based on companies which are subject to integrated pollution control licensing.
The slaughtering industry attracted the most complaints last year, followed by the rendering, fibreboard and pharmaceutical industries.
The EPA says it is nonetheless encouraged by a downward trend reflected in complaints about the pharmaceutical, rendering and fibreboard sectors.
However, extensive remedial work is needed to solve problems in slaughtering. New equipment is being installed which should improve the situation there, it notes. Successful legal action has been taken against nine factories over the past 12 months, with total fines and costs amounting to more than £70,000.
Most of these companies are now making stringent efforts to conform, the EPA says in the annual report on its integrated pollution control (IPC) licensing programme. The IPC system operates with most Irish industry.
The nine companies are as follows (figures in brackets give fine imposed and costs): Henry Denny & Sons, Tralee, Co Kerry, for a non-compliant audit (£7,114); Rhone Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, for a non-compliant audit (£7,225); AIBP, Clones, Co Monaghan, for contamination of surface waters and non-notification to the agency (£8,295); Jack Marry (Little Grange), Co Louth, for discharge of slurry as a result of land-spreading under unsuitable conditions (£3,884).
Irish Country Meats Ltd, in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, for exceeding effluent emission limits and non-compliant audit (£5,856); Dublin Products Ltd for unauthorised discharge and non-submission of reports (£13,898); Munekata Ireland Ltd for non-compliant audit (£8,278); Castlemahon Foods, Co Limerick, for exceeding effluent emission limits and non-submission of reports (£8,055); and Premier Proteins, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, for exceeding effluent emission limits (£11,648).
