Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the significant variations between local authorities in their responses to waste management complaints during 2004, particularly the variations in legal and enforcement action in the form of prosecutions and legal orders taken under the Waste Management Acts 1996-2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22219/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is a matter for the relevant individual local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement to investigate any instances or reports of illegal disposal of waste and consider appropriate action in such cases. While I have no direct function in regard to these matters, I have recently issued a policy direction under section 60 of the Waste Management Act which inter alia seeks to bring a greater focus to local authority enforcement activity. I intend that the policy direction will facilitate a more uniform and consistent approach to waste enforcement and that this will be reflected in increased and more effective enforcement actions.

The Office of Environmental Enforcement supervises the environmental protection activities of the local authorities, through auditing their performance, providing advice and guidance and, in appropriate cases, giving binding directions. In this regard, the office is a resource for members of the public who have exhausted other avenues of complaint. The office has also commissioned a study which will benchmark enforcement activities and its results will be delivered in 2006.