Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the effects the budget 2009 cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency will have on the protection of the environment here; if the Environmental Protection Agency has indicated to him the programmes that will be cut; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36544/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am satisfied that the 2009 Exchequer provision for the Environmental Protection Agency, together with its income from licensing and the Environment Fund, will leave it well placed to continue to carry out its important environmental functions.

The reduction in the 2009 allocation reflects in part the fact that work on the construction of the Agency's new headquarters building has progressed well and will require less capital expenditure next year.

The EPA, in line with Government Departments and other agencies, will be required to achieve efficiencies in expenditure in some areas, such as non-pay. However, the Exchequer allocation of almost €35 million to the EPA for 2009, which represents an increase of 25% on 2007 levels, underlines the importance of the work that the Agency carries out and my commitment to strengthening its role, particularly in the critical areas of environmental enforcement and compliance.