Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to implement the programme for Government commitment to review the level of fines and sentences which can be applied by the lower courts in the cases of pollution and dumping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10145/09]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to implement the commitment in the programme for Government to review the role, procedures and legislation governing the Environmental Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10144/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 82 together.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to initiate a study of all legislation relating to environmental fines as part of the review of the EPA. The review will be carried out by an expert group to include members with relevant international experience. I am currently considering the appropriate structure for the review and the membership of the review group.

The EPA has also taken steps to build capacity in support of the prosecution of cases on indictment in the higher courts. It has developed a panel of retired members of An Garda Síochána with the skills to facilitate better file preparation for the Director of Public Prosecutions. It has also developed a special training course for local authority staff on waste enforcement and the preparation of files for the DPP.