John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

The agency and local authority response to recent lead excesses in certain water supplies is evidence of the effectiveness of this new regime. It also reminds us of the fundamental necessity to ensure that the quality of our drinking water supplies meets the highest standards. In that context, I recently announced a wide range of additional measures to secure universal compliance with drinking water standards, including accelerated progress with key schemes and immediate remedial measures to respond to potential risks identified by the Environmental Protection Agency. Drinking water quality data will also soon be available on local authority websites for everyone to see, in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. On the waste water side, discharges from municipal sewage treatment plants are now subject to licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency to guarantee conformity with effluent standards and to protect the quality of the receiving waters.

The Environmental Protection Agency is central to our efforts to protect and enhance our environment. The 2008 Exchequer provision for the agency of almost €35 million, together with its income from licensing and the environment fund, positions it well to continue to carry out its very important environmental functions on our behalf.

This year has seen major advances in the development of our built heritage programme. In addition to providing ongoing support for the civic structures and architectural conservation grants schemes, I have also been in a position to progress new funding programmes such as the places of public worship fund and the INSTAR archaeological research fund. The provision of more than €25 million for built heritage in 2009 will consolidate the progress made during 2008. Next year's allocation for the Heritage Council of more than €11 million will allow the council to progress key initiatives such as the buildings-at-risk programme.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department is responsible for the provision of front-line services for the protection of nature. It enforces habitat and species protection, in addition to providing expertise and advice to Departments——

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