Module: Environmental Legislation, Standards & Risk

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Environmental Legislation, Standards & Risk
Module Code	MEC1023 (ITS: MM324)
Faculty	Mechanical & Manufacturing Eng	School	Engineering & Computing
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The objectives of this module are to make students aware of the complexities surrounding environmental policy, legislation, regulations and voluntary tools, such as standards, so that they can understand their impacts on engineering design and on the environment and sustainability

Learning Outcomes

1. Recognise the role environmental policy, legislation and standards play in engineering
2. Describe the main EU Directives related to the Environment that are in force in Ireland and explain how these Directives are incorporated into Irish Law
3. Practice giving advice on the application of environmental standards (both mandatory and voluntary) in engineering design and operations
4. Examine the relationships among environmental legislation, standards, health and safety, risk and ethics
5. Review case studies for adherence to / breaches of legislation and standards

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lectures
Group work	40	Preparation for group assignment
Debate	30	Completion of online discussion fora activities
Independent Study	31	Assignment preparation, study for class test
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20163	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Éadaoin Carthy	Module Teacher

Section Breakdown
CRN	21340	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Éadaoin Carthy	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Completion of online activity	Three online discussion fora (10% each) where students practice giving advice on the application of environmental standards on a range of scenarios	30%	n/a
Group presentation	Students orally present their assessment of a case study / scenario in groups	30%	n/a
In Class Test	Two hours end of academic session quiz	40%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Policies on the Environment
Action Programmes; UN Sustainable Devlelopment Goals; Climate Change; Environmental principles (eg Polluter Pays principle); International cooperation; environmental impact assessment; public participation; implementation, monitioring and enforcement

Overview of EU Directives that relate to the environment
Purpose and implementaion of EU legislation; main directives that relate to engineering such as Water Framework and Waste Directives

Implementation of EU environmental legislation in Ireland
How EU directives are implemented into Irish law; environmental policy in Ireland; enforcement of environmental legislation in Ireland; main Irish Acts (eg Waste Management Act 1996 and their corresponding regulations (eg Water policy and drinking water regulations)

Environmental Standards
Links to engineering design of Voluntary standards such as ISO14000 series and ISO50001; mandatory standards such as labelling, safety standards; water discharge licences; definition of end of waste; circular economy

Health and Safety; Ethics; Risk Management
Class discussions about the linkages of health and safety, ethics, risk management to engineering design, standards and legislation

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

1: Website, Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA report),
411132: 1, Website, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, (SEAI energy data),
https://www.seai.ie/: 411133, 1, Website, Irish Government website, (Government publications and policies)
https://www.gov.ie/en/: 411134, 1, Website, Irish Government, (Irish Legislation)
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/: 411135, 1, Website, NSAI, (NSAI standards access)
https://eu-i2-saiglobal-com.dcu.idm.oclc.org/management/search/index: