Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 685: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the instruction and guidelines which he has issued to local authorities regarding the implementation of the Nitrates Directive; the additional resources which he is providing to local authorities to facilitate the implementation of the inspection programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6796/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The functions of local authorities under the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006 ("the Nitrates Regulations") are clearly prescribed in the Regulations and include matters such as the monitoring of water quality, inspection of farm holdings, consultation and co-ordination with other public authorities, powers to specify variations on the size of protection zones around drinking water abstraction points and related matters. The terms and requirements of the Regulations were notified to local authorities by my Department in circular letters issued to the authorities and in briefing sessions held for local authority staff.

Article 29(6) of the Regulations provides that the EPA may make recommendations and give directions to a local authority in relation to the monitoring and inspections to be carried out and other measures to be taken by the authority for the purposes of the Regulations. This provision is in keeping with the general powers of the EPA under the Environmental Protection Agency Acts to exercise supervision in relation to the performance by local authorities of their environmental protection functions. I understand that the EPA is preparing guidelines for issue to local authorities on implementation of the Regulations and other environmental legislation.

In addition to the enforcement activities of local authorities, implementation of the Nitrates Regulations is supported by farm inspections carried out by staff of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the context of the operation of the Single Farm Payment Scheme and cross-compliance requirements.

I am currently reviewing the overall employment position in the local government sector, having regard to the need to deliver front line services (including environmental inspections and enforcement functions), and achieve value for money within the parameters of Government policy on public service employment generally. As part of this 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 on the local government sector.