Environment Boundary FAQs

How will Waste Management & Recycling Centres be impacted?

Eleven Bring Bank Recycling Sites are located within the transfer area.

• Blarney Public Carpark
• Christies Blarney
• Cloghroe Church
• Ballincollig Regional Park
• Quish’s SuperValu Ballincollig
• Times Square Ballincollig
• Dunnes Stores Bandon Rd Roundabout SC
• Ryans’ SuperValu Grange
• Douglas Court SC
• Mt Oval SC
• LIDL Riverstown

Facilities at all of these sites will continue and from May 31st 2019, responsibility for the management and maintenance of these sites will transfer to Cork City Council. 

How are Environmental Licences/Authorisations affected by the boundary change?

For businesses operating within the boundary transfer area, Cork City Council will, from May 31st 2019, become the authorising authority for:

• Facility Permits & Certificates of Registration under the Waste Management Acts
• Discharge Licences under the Water Pollution Acts (for discharges to ground or surface water*)
• Licences under the Air Pollution Acts
• Certificates under the European Union (Installations and Activities using Organic Solvents) Regulations 2012
• Certificates under the European Union (Paints, Varnishes, Vehicle Refinishing Products and Activities) Regulations 2012
• Certificates under the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Petroleum Vapour Emissions) Regulations, 1997
• Notifications under the Burning Regulations

Note: Licences for discharges to the public sewer are dealt with by Irish Water.

From May 31 next, anyone wishing to apply for an authorisation under any of the above headings must apply to Cork City Council. Contact can be made with Customer Services at 021 4924444 who will put callers in contact with the relevant engineer in Environment. Forms can also be found at https://www.corkcity.ie/en/council-services/services/environment/

If you already hold an authorisation issued by Cork County Council under any of the above headings, that licence will from May 31, transfer to Cork City Council. 

How will environmental monitoring & enforcement be impacted by the boundary change?

From May 31st 2019, responsibility for monitoring and enforcement under all the above headings will transfer to Cork City Council.

Water Quality

• Monitoring of private group water schemes/small private supplies
• Monitoring of trade effluent discharges (to ground or surface waters)
• Monitoring of general water quality (rivers, lakes etc)
• Farm Inspections
• Beach/Bathing Area monitoring

Waste

• Monitoring and inspection of authorised and unauthorised waste collectors and facilities.
• Investigation of fly tipping and illegal dumping.
• Litter Control Services
• Unauthorised burning

Air Quality

• Monitoring of operators licenced under the Air Pollution Acts, Solvent and Solid Fuel Regs e.g dry cleaners, vehicle refinishers, solid fuel merchants etc.

I am currently engaging with Cork County Council on an environmental issue – what should I do?

Cork County Council will remain the relevant body for the above range of environmental services until May 31. Transition arrangements will be put in place for applications and other environmental cases that remain undecided or unresolved at May 31. In such cases, contact will be made directly with the parties involved.

I want to report a pollution incident

From May 31st 2019, all pollution complaints or incident reports relating to the boundary transfer area should be made to Cork City Council. This includes reports and complaints relating to water pollution, flytipping, air/noise pollution, odours etc

Where an environmental complaint has been made to Cork County Council before May 31 and remains unresolved at that date, transition arrangements will be put in place to ensure the issue is dealt with. Individual notifications will issue to complainants in any such cases.

I reside in the boundary transfer area and have received a litter fine – who should I pay it to?

If the fine was issued by Cork County Council then it should be paid to Cork County Council via the channels specified on the fine itself -even where the payment is being made after May 31st 2019.

There is litter in the ditch on the roadway. Where do I report this to?

Ring Cork City Council Customer Services on 021 4924444. Your query will be logged and you will be given a reference number. If illegal dumping has taken place, litter wardens will make an inspection. If you see someone dumping illegally, report the matter to Cork City Council on our Litter FreePhone number 1800 283034 and the incident will be investigated and any necessary enforcement action will be taken.

We are organising a litter clean up in our estate. Will the Local Authority help? 

Ring Cork City Council Customer Services on 021 4924444 and they will put you in contact with our Environment Department who will be happy to liaise with the local groups. 

I work with the Tidy Towns. Who can I talk to about assisting with clean ups etc?

Cork City Council has been meeting with Tidy Towns groups in the area to transfer to the city. We want to give every encouragement to these groups who are a huge asset to their communities. Tidy Towns Committees can make contact with the Parks Department or Community section via Cork City Council Customer Services at 021 4924444.

We are looking for No Dog Fouling Signs to be erected. Who will do this/how do we go about it?

Ring Cork City Council Customer Services on 021 4924444 and our Waste Management Department will be happy to arrange to liaise with the local groups. 

How do I complain about Dog Fouling?

Complaints concerning dog fouling in a public place should be made to Freephone 1800 283034 giving details of the caller and of the person committing the offence. 

There is a fallen / dangerous tree on public property in my area. Who do I report this to?

After May 31st 2019, ring Cork City Council Customer Services on 021 4924444. Your query will be logged and you will be given a reference number. After the calls are logged, the trees are inspected by the Environment Directorate and action prioritised according to need. Out of hours ring 021 4966512 our out of hours/emergency number.

There is a dead animal on the roadway/ in public area – who will move it, where can I report it?

After May 31, ring Cork City Council Customer Services on 021 4924444. You will be given a reference number. Once the call is logged, a foreman will remove it.

Who can I talk to about road sweeping outside my house / estate?

Cork County Council’s Street Cleaning Operation will be integrated into the City structures from May 31st 2019. A query about road sweeping should be logged with Cork City Council Customer Services on 021 4924444 and the customer will receive a reference number.

I work with the Tidy Towns. Who can I talk to about assisting with clean ups etc?

Cork City Council has been meeting with Tidy Towns groups in the area to transfer to the city. We want to give every encouragement to these groups who are a huge asset to their communities. Tidy Towns Committees can make contact with the Parks Department or Community section via Cork City Council Customer Services at 021 4924444.

Will we administer Amenity or Community Grant Schemes?

Yes, Cork City Council will continue Amenity and Community Grants. The Grants for 2019 have been given out for the entirety of this year by Cork County Council. In 2020, Cork City Council will make contact with the relevant groups and publicise Amenity and Community Grant Scheme application details. Cork City Council will keep in contact with Tidy Towns/environmental/community groups.

Will we administer a Community Contracts Scheme? 

Yes, we will administer a Community Contracts Scheme which is a bigger funding scheme than the Amenity and Community Grant Scheme. The Parks Department and Community Directorate will keep in contact with Tidy Towns/environmental/community groups.