Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will establish a 24-hour manned freefone service similar to that established in Northern Ireland for members of the public to report environmental damaging activities, many of which occur outside normal business hours. [2388/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Enforcement of environmental legislation is a matter for the major local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement. A significant development in 2004, led by the office, was the consolidation of environmental enforcement activity in the country through the establishment of a national enforcement network. The function of this network is to harness the collective resources, expertise and investigative capacity of all the agencies engaged in dealing with environmental crime in Ireland, including the Garda Siochána and the relevant enforcement authorities in Northern Ireland.

The network is bringing a level of consistency and focus to waste enforcement in Ireland that did not exist prior to its establishment and targeted roadblocks and inspections of suspect premises have occurred. The network is currently considering its planned actions during 2005, and initiatives such as a special confidential telephone line to deal with complaints will form part of the examination of possible actions to be undertaken.