Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 599: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the resources, including additional resources, which he proposes to make available to local authorities in each of the river basin districts in order to enable them to implement the EU water framework directive; when the timescale and expenditures in each case will be published and communicated to the local authorities in question; if the revision of the development plans in the areas of the local authorities have taken account of such additional expenditure as may be required; and if he will sanction such additional staff as will be necessary for preparation and implementation of the directive. [4547/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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A comprehensive programme of activities is currently under way by my Department, the EPA, local authorities and other relevant bodies for full implementation of the Water Framework Directive. My Department has to date committed funding amounting to some €63 million for river basin district projects, led by local authorities, to support implementation of the Directive.

The necessary staffing to deal with water management in River Basin Districts is drawn from the relevant local authorities and a co-ordination function is exercised by a designated co-ordinating local authority in each district. I am reviewing the overall employment position in the local government sector, having regard to the need to deliver front line services, and achieve value for money within the parameters of Government policy on public service employment generally. As part of my review, my Department is consulting the Department of Finance in relation to the current ceiling on local authority staff numbers, including impacts in relation to increased EU requirements and other obligations in the local government sector.

My Department is currently preparing guidance for local authorities in relation to the preparation of River Basin Management Plans. This will, inter alia, address the integration of the River Basin Management Plans with other plans and programmes, including County Development Plans and related Local Area Plans. Drafts of the River Basin Management Plans are due to be published in 2008, and they are due to be adopted by the end of 2009. The Plans will be accompanied by a Programme of Measures, aimed at achieving the environmental objectives set out; the Programme of Measures must be made operational by 2012 at the latest, with the aim of achieving the environmental objectives by 2015.