Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the pressures on environment sections of many local authorities to focus on waste issues is to the detriment of their work on water quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16468/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that environmental sections of local authorities are required to discharge a wide range of functions and responsibilities. However, a wide range of measures have been put in place in order to assist local authorities in the execution of their functions in relation to water quality. For example, the local authorities acting jointly are designated as competent authorities for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive under the European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003. Their task in this regard is being significantly supported by river basin district projects, led by local authorities but funded by my Department, together with a wide range of research and other projects funded under the National Development Plan. INTERREG funding is also being applied in relation to cross-border projects. My Department has committed funds in excess of €50 million to date to these activities.

A further €2 billion has been invested since 2000 under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme, on the provision of new and upgraded water and wastewater infrastructure.

I am also providing some €875m to local authorities in 2006 through general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund. This represents an increase of 7% over the level provided in 2005 and I am satisfied that this funding, together with the income available to local authorities from other sources, will enable them to provide a satisfactory level of services. It is, of course, a matter for each local authority to prioritise its expenditure within the resources available to it and to operate its services as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Local authority staffing increased by over 25% in the period 1997 to 2003. I am continuing to keep the overall employment position in the sector under regular review, having regard to the need to deliver quality front-line services and achieve value for money within the parameter of Government policy on public service employment generally.

A high priority also attaches to waste issues. 120 new staff have been recruited specifically for waste related work. The work programme for these staff is entirely waste related and is undertaken both under the authorities own plans and as part of the agreed Action Plans of the Enforcement Network of the EPA. Funding in the order of €7.5 million per year in Enforcement Grants is being provided in respect of these staff from the Environment Fund, which in turn is funded from the Landfill Levy and the Plastic Bags Levy. Far from taking resources from the water quality area, these waste actions are undertaken by staff dedicated to such work, recruited for that purpose and funded from waste levies.