Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment that there would be a review of the Environmental Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37418/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The review of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promised in the Programme for Government commenced in February 2010. The review's terms of reference are as follows:

i) To review the legislation governing the EPA, including the licensing functions and the processes in place to ensure public participation and the various remedies and sanctions available to the EPA for enforcement provided in the Acts, and to identify any necessary improvements in the legislation;

ii) To assess the performance of the EPA against the mandate which it was given when it was originally established in 1993, in relation to the expanding goals which have been set for it in the past decade and in comparison with best practice elsewhere, and to identify any necessary improvements in the EPA's procedures and approaches;

iii) To assess the scope of the EPA's mandate and whether it could be strengthened to include other areas;

iv) To review the resources allocated to the EPA in relation to current obligations and further functions that may arise, on foot of EU legislation;

v) To assess the structures and governance of the EPA (including the operation of advisory committees and whether non-executive directors should be provided for; and

vi) To re-assess the ongoing relationship between the EPA and other parts of the environmental governance structure in Ireland, having regard to the environmental challenges facing Ireland and developments in society.

The Review Group has decided that seven broad thematic perspectives will be used to progress its work. These themes are:

1. Legislative Framework

2. Legislative Compliance

3. Licensing, Management and Assessment

4. Environmental Research and Information

5. The Relationship between the Environmental Protection Agency and its stakeholders

6. Governance, Internal Structure and Resource Allocation Issues

7. An International / Comparative Agency Perspective

The review process has included a public consultation period from April to June 2010, during which 131 submissions were received, and the Group is now consulting with key stakeholders, including other State agencies that interact frequently with the EPA, as well as business, farming and NGO representatives.

I expect the Review Group to be in a position to substantially to conclude its work by the end of the year and to submit its report to me quickly thereafter. I envisage that the report will be published in due course, following consideration of its conclusions and recommendations. Further details in relation to the review are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie .