EPA Announce Funding Of €14.5m For New Research To Address Climate & Environmental Challenges.
EPA announces funding of €14.5 million for 25 new research projects to address climate and environmental challenges.
EPA funding is building essential research capacity in Ireland with 50 per cent of applications in 2024 submitted by researchers new to the EPA Research Programme.
The funding supports research in the areas of climate change, the natural environment, the green & circular economy and the environment & human health.
Reflecting the need for cross-sectoral research, the EPA is working in partnership with Met Éireann and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to co-fund a number of the research projects.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced new funding for environmental and climate research in Ireland, with funding of €14.5 million awarded for 25 new research projects. These innovative, policy-relevant projects will address key knowledge gaps and support the development of vital research capacity in strategically important areas.
The latest EPA Research Call garnered a strong response, with 50 per cent of successful lead researchers not having previously applied to the EPA for funding. This is a welcome and positive trend that reflects a broadening of the research base in Ireland relevant to environmental and climate issues.
Projects that will receive EPA funding this year include topics such as:
Attribution of weather events to climate change.
Exploring Irish people’s attitudes and values around climate change.
Investigating the risk of exposure to chemicals in foodstuffs.
Susceptibility and resistance of trees to diseases such as ash dieback.
Novel approaches to managing textile waste.
Mitigating the risks posed by electronic waste (WEEE).
Announcing the funding awards, Ms Laura Burke, EPA Director General said:“Our latest EPA State of the Environment Report highlights the scale of challenges facing Ireland and the need for determined action across climate, , sustainable consumption, biodiversity and pollution goals. This new EPA funding will help to build the vital research talent and knowledge needed in Ireland to respond to these challenges and achieve a healthier environment. I congratulate the successful research teams and look forward to seeing the positive impacts these projects will have on environmental protection in the years ahead.”
The latest EPA funding is significant in terms of further building the environmental research capacity in Ireland. It will support almost 200 research staff across 10 organisations, including funding for approximately 50 PhD and postgraduate students. Crucially, the EPA will provide hands-on support and training to the researchers to facilitate the uptake of the research outputs by policy makers and other users. Trinity College Dublin (TCD) received the highest number of successful research awards in 2024.
Dean of Research at Trinity College Dublin, Prof. Sinéad Ryan, commented:“I offer my warm congratulations to our researchers and their teams on securing this EPA funding. This funding is a key enabler for research across a number of our disciplines with a focus in conservation, sustainability and/or climate adaptation. I commend our researchers for their vision and commitment to transformative research that addresses societal challenges, and I look forward to seeing these projects develop.”
Reflecting the importance of collaboration in addressing climate and environmental challenges, the EPA is working in partnership with Met Éireann and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to co-fund a number of the projects.
The list of Funding Awards made under the EPA Research Call 2024 is available on the EPA website with full project details in the EPA’s online Research Database.
The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The EPA Research Call 2025 will open for applications in April 2025. Details will be made available on the EPA website.
The Department of Agriculture have issued an order to house poultry flocks and other captive birds, same coming into effect from today, in an effort to protect them from Avian influenza.
This order follows five detections of Avian influenza virus; more commonly called bird flu, found in wild birds across Ireland since December 2024 last.
Detections have already been identified in counties Galway and Dublin last December, with three further cases pinpointed in January of this year in counties Donegal, Westmeath and Wexford.
Following these identified cases, the Department of Agriculture has announced this immediate housing order to protect poultry flocks and captive birds from mixing with wild birds, who may be infected by the virus.
All ready in Northern Ireland, 64,000 birds are set to be slaughtered at one commercial poultry unit, situated in Co. Tyrone, following the discovery of a suspected case.
According to the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre, [HPSC] Avian influenza or “bird flu” is a disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. It can affect all species of birds, some other animals (e.g. cats, horses) and can, although very rarely, infect humans. Only the virus types of the H5 and H7 types are known to cause the highly pathogenic (HPAI) form of the disease. The most well-known example is the avian influenza subtype H5N1 viruses, currently circulating in poultry in parts of Asia and north-east Africa, which have caused human disease and deaths since 1997. Other avian influenza subtypes, including H7N9 and H9N2, have also infected people. Some of these infections have been very severe and some have resulted in deaths, but many infections have been mild or even without symptoms in humans. To date, Hong Kong has reported 21 cases of H7N9 in humans, all traced to mainland China and involving contact with poultry.
Just last month, Marmoris Limited, trading as Killough Solar, lodged a planning application with Tipperary Co. Council following the purchase of Killough Castle, Killough, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and its accompanying 527 acres of land of by Mr John Magnier’s Coolmore Stud Farm, last year.
Marmoris in their planning application, are seeking a ten-year planning permission for 745,168 square metres of solar panels in the town lands of Killough, Clohoge and Graigue in Co. Tipperary.
Some 30 submissions have since been lodged with the council, condemning the planning application on the grounds of:-
Scale of the development would result in a major visual intrusion.
Present road infrastructure totally unsuitable.
Loss of value to existing homes.
Proposed development could potentially prevent others from getting planning permission for future domestic dwellings.
Golden Vale area traditionally used for food output and brownfield sites with good roads and waste infrastructures should be considered as an alternative.
The planning consultants for the scheme, Fehily Timoney, confirm that the project is led by Coolmore Stud and is designed to complement Coolmore’s environmental and sustainability initiatives, while benefiting the local community and contributing to Ireland’s renewable energy targets.
Locals are asking questions as to why was this recently purchased Killough Castle farm selected over and above the other almost 11,000 acres of land in the ownership of Coolmore Stud?
The Killough solar farm set 6.5km south of Thurles would according to the planning application, create 80 to 100 jobs, during its anticipated 18-month construction period.
A decision is expected on this planning application by the end of this month.
Meanwhile, as we reported on January 30th, 2025, Major opposition, grave concerns and extreme anger has irrupted, due to a planning application for a wind-farm & battery farm on the northern outskirts of Thurles town, in the townlands of Brittas, Rossestown, Ballygammane and Clobanna. The planning application seeks permission for 10 to 12X 185m(1542ft) high turbines, together with an accompanying battery farm, latter to store generated electricity, same to be occasioned by this proposed project. View Here.
Weekly Planning Alerts and Updates from Tipperary County Council.
Application Ref: 2560079 Applicant: Ms Paula Barry Development Address: 18 Sarsfield Street , Thurles , Co. Tipperary Development Description:a) a proposed new extension to the existing dwelling; b) associated alterations to existing dwelling to accommodate proposed new extension & internal layout; c) alterations to the existing detached shed structure; d) all associated site works. Status: N/A Application Received: 07/02/2025 Decision Date: N/A Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2560079/0
Application Ref: 2461054 Applicant: Ms Marie O’Kelly Development Address: No. 10 Ikerrin Court , Thurles , Co. Tipperary Development Description: an extension to the side of dwelling with minor elevation changes to the existing dwelling with all associated siteworks Status: Conditional Application Received: 07/12/2024 Decision Date: 06/02/2025 Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2461054/0
Application Ref: 2461043 Applicant: Thurles Sarsfields GAA Club Development Address: Toor, Nenagh Road , Thurles Development Description: the change of design of dressing room building from that previously granted under planning permission number 22/197, and all associated site works and services Status: Conditional Application Received: 05/12/2024 Decision Date: 05/02/2025 Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2461043/0
Application Ref: 2461016 Applicant: Mr Jack Moore Development Address: 5 Bohernanave , Thurles , Co. Tipperary Development Description: renovations and an extension to the rear of house with all associated site works Status: Conditional Application Received: 28/11/2024 Decision Date: 28/01/2025 Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2461016/0
Today, Yuka* are launching a major European petition to demand the ban of Aspartame[E number E 951] in our food, alongside the French League Against Cancer* and the NGO Foodwatch*.
*Yuka is a 100% independent mobile Phone App that analyses the impact of food and cosmetic products on health. By scanning the barcode of a product, the application allows you to access the details of the product’s composition and in return indicates a color-coded rating ranging from green to red. The app now has 65 million users in 12 different countries. The aim is to help consumers make more conscious choices, but also to encourage manufacturers to improve the composition of their products.
Please now sign the petition and together, we can make a difference!
Why take action?
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used to replace sugar in many low-calorie or sugar-free products. It has been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It has also been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Several studies show that it has no positive effect on weight and may even contribute to long-term weight gain.
Given these unacceptable risks, it’s time to take action.
Yuka is calling on you to ban the additive aspartame/E 951 in food and beverages within the EU.
*Foodwatch is an independent non-profit consumer organisation that fights for safe, healthy and affordable food for all people. We give consumers a loud voice, speak up for transparency in the food sector and defend our right to food that harms neither people nor the environment. By conducting research, exposing scandals, mobilising consumers and lobbying governments, foodwatch provides an important counterweight to the power of the food industry.
*La Ligue contre le Cancer(The French Cancer League) is the biggest French independent non-profit association fighting against cancer. It comprises of 103 chapters present all over the French national and overseas territories. It provides advice, support and information to cancer patients and their relatives. It promotes policies for better cancer prevention, early detection and care as well as independent cancer research.
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