The principal aim of the Environmental Health Services is the control of those environmental health factors in the physical environment which adversely affect health and the promotion of good environmental health standards.

The Environmental Health Services are engaged in a wide range of environmental health services for both the Health Board and the Local Authorities (on an agency or secondment basis). The main services include:

Food Control:

• Food control, including auditing of food premises, food sampling, registration and licensing of food businesses for which the Health Board is responsible.
• Enforcement of food labelling legislation.
• Monitoring of the safety of food - microbiological, physical and chemical.
• Food safety training of food workers in food business for which the Health Board is responsible.
• Investigation of food complaints and food poisoning outbreaks.
• Monitoring of food alerts.
• Port Health - monitoring of food imports from non EU countries, issuing of derating and derating exemption certificates at designated ports.
• Enforcement of legislation on fish and shellfish in conjunction with the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources.

Environmental Control:

• Investigation of housing applicants and complaints of poor housing.
• Investigation of applications for Housing Aid for the Elderly.
• Monitoring of drinking water in food premises and of public water supplies.
• Investigation of complaints of poor quality drinking water.
• Monitoring of fluoridation of water supplies.
• Pest control, including advice to the public and enforcement of pest control legislation.
• Inspection of pre-school facilities.
• Inspection of nursing homes.
• Enforcement of the tobacco regulations.
• Licensing of outlets for sales of poisons.
• Monitoring of the sale of cosmetics.
• Monitoring of labelling of over the counter medicines in retail outlets.
• Inspection of swimming pools and leisure centres.
• Investigation of infectious diseases notifications in conjunction with the Area Medical Officer Service and the Health Board's Department of Public Health Medicine.
• Investigation of complaints of environmental health hazards.
• Investigation of public complaints and advice to the public in relation to any of the environmental health functions listed above.
• Assessment of Planning & Development applications referred from the Planning authority

Any person or corporate body operating a registerable category of food business is required to register their business under the appropriate legislation with their local Health Board by notifying the Environmental Health Section in their local Community Care Office.

If you wish to apply for any of the services provided, obtain information or make a complaint please contact any of the following as appropriate or click here to download application forms for Environmental Health Services.

Cavan:
Principal Environmental Health Officer, The Arcade, Cavan. Tel: 049 4373414/4373415.

Monaghan:
Senior Environmental Health Officer, Environmental Health, 14 Church Square, Monaghan. Tel: 047 71926.

Louth:
Principal Environmental Health Officer, Environmental Health Service, Ramparts Road, Dundalk. Tel: 042 9389170.

Meath:
Principal Environmental Health Officer, Community Care Offices, County Clinic, Navan. Tel: 046 9021595 

Useful Publications

• A Guide To Requirements For Food Premises (.pdf file)
• Food Safety Management - HACCP Principles

Useful Links

• Food Safety Authority of Ireland
• Irish Statute Book - which covers all environmental health legislation
• Office of Tobacco Control
• Food Safety Promotion Board