John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I will now comment on some specific aspects of my Department's Estimates. I will concentrate on the principal sectors within my Department's broad remit. In 2009, my Department will continue to advance the protection of our environment and ensure compliance with EU standards with regard to water, waste and species protection. My policies and programmes will be framed against the background of the state of the environment report, Ireland's Environment, published last week. This is the most comprehensive and authoritative assessment of our environment available.

The provision of €560 million for 2009 is the highest ever for water services infrastructure, representing an increase of 19% over 2008. Against the present economic backdrop this is the clearest possible statement by the Government of the priority we are giving to preserving and protecting our water resources as a key element of our environment——

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