Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 540: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the Government's current sustainable development strategy; and the way in which it is monitored, reviewed and revised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26379/05]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 541: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date on the implementation of agenda 21; the plans available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26380/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 541 together.

Ireland's national sustainable development strategy was published in 1997 and reviewed in the context of the world summit on sustainable development in 2002. It provides the framework for Ireland's response to Agenda 21, the world agenda for sustainable development agreed at the earth summit in Rio in 1992. A core objective in the sustainable development strategy is to ensure that both the economy and society in Ireland can develop to their full potential within a well protected environment, without compromising the quality of that environment and with responsibility towards present and future generations and the wider international community.

The progress made in implementing the strategy was reflected in the EPA State of the Environment report for 2004. Success has been achieved in areas such as decoupling energy and materials intensity from economic growth, promoting cleaner methods of industrial production and more environmentally friendly agriculture, and raising environmental awareness. A key mechanism for overseeing the implementation of the strategy is Comhar, the National Sustainable Development Partnership, which was established in 1999 as the forum for national consultation and dialogue on all issues relating to sustainable development. Its terms of reference are, in brief, to advance the national agenda for sustainable development, to assist in devising suitable mechanisms and advising on their implementation and to contribute to the formation of a national consensus in these regards. Comhar has completed its second term of office and I will shortly announce the new membership for its third term.

The key to the future direction of our national sustainable development strategy will be the outcome of the current mid-term review of the EU sustainable development strategy. Once this review has been finalised, my Department will consider any steps that will need to be taken to update our national strategy.

At a local level, sustainable development is supported by Local Agenda 21, which is implemented by local authorities in accordance with the guidance issued in 2001 called "Towards Sustainable Development — Guidelines on Local Agenda 21". The Local Agenda 21 environmental partnership fund was established in 1997 and is intended to promote sustainable development by assisting environmental awareness projects at a local level. The fund is co-financed by the Department and the local authorities and is administered by the local authorities with the Department maintaining a supervisory role. Since its inception in 1997, over 1,000 projects have been awarded funding totalling almost €2 million.

This year I am providing funding of €250,000 for the 2005 Local Agenda 21 environmental partnership fund and matching funding by local authorities will create a potential fund of €500,000. Details of this year's environmental partnership fund have already issued to local authorities and were advertised in the national print media on 6 September 2005. The closing date for receipt of applications is 7 October 2005.