(RMCEI - Recommended Minimum Criteria for Environmental Inspections)

Local Authorities in Ireland are responsible for carrying out environmental enforcement activities and demonstrating that these activities are properly planned, recorded, monitored and reported. But how confident are you that your RMCEI returns accurately reflect your councils work, that the supporting evidence will stand up to scrutiny and that any gaps in inspection or enforcement activity are identified before an EPA audit? This practical training course will explore the key considerations surrounding RMCEI reporting, EPA audits, environmental enforcement performance and audit readiness, helping participants ask the right questions, recognise potential weaknesses and consider practical ways to strengthen their council’s approach.

All attendees will receive a full course pack to refer to and will have the benefit of learning from a trainer with a wealth of experience in this area.

Topics

• What is the purpose of EPA audits of local authorities?
• RMCEI (Recommended Minimum Criteria for Environmental Inspections) and how it relates to local authority environmental enforcement?
• RMCEI Returns – Reporting Requirements, Data Quality & Accountability
• What information does the council need to capture to support its RMCEI reporting?
• EPA Audits – What Might Be Examined & How Can Councils Prepare?
• How should a local authority prepare its records, evidence and staff for an audit?
• Can the council demonstrate a clear audit trail from an identified environmental issue to its resolution
• How are inspection files, correspondence, photographs, site notes and enforcement decisions maintained
• How should the council respond if records are incomplete, inconsistent or difficult to retrieve
• What questions should managers ask to identify weaknesses before an audit takes place?
• Environmental Inspections, Complaints & Enforcement Follow-up
• What evidence demonstrates that inspections have been completed effectively?
• When non-compliance is identified, how is the appropriate response determined and documented?
• How does the council monitor outstanding corrective actions and repeat non-compliance?
• How are enforcement decisions, including decisions not to escalate a matter, recorded and justified?
• Addressing Audit Findings & Strengthening Environmental Enforcement Performance
• How can recurring problems with data quality, record-keeping or inspection follow-up be addressed?
• How can managers distinguish isolated errors from wider weaknesses in systems or procedures?
• What performance indicators and internal reviews can help identify emerging problems?
• How should lessons from audits be incorporated into future RMCEI planning and reporting?
• How can councils demonstrate that corrective actions have been implemented and are working?

Who Should Attend

This course is intended for professionals involved in environmental protection, inspection, enforcement, RMCEI Reporting, performance management and EPA audit preparation within Irish local authorities. Some of the roles include directors of services, Senior executive officers, senior engineer, executive engineer, scientists, environmental officers, inspectors, waste enforcement officers, waste prevention officers, Water quality departments, Environmental technicians, compliance officers, pollution control officers, wardens, reporting officers, environmental management system coordinators, staff responsible for environmental data, reporting and performance monitoring, those responsible for preparing or validating RMCEI returns and managers responsible for responding to EPA audit findings and implementing corrective actions.

Certification

On completion of this one-day training course, you will receive your Certificate of Attendance. Please note certificates are issued at the close of the training course to participants on completion of the course.

This course may qualify for CPD points. Please check directly with your association or awarding body to see how many points they will award.

Cost

An ‘Early Bird’ discounted rate of €499 is currently available. This training course normal rate is €599. Places are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis. PLEASE NOTE THE EARLY BIRD RATE CLOSES 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO COURSE DATE. The course cost includes all course documentation and Certificate of Attendance.