Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these staff are based here or in Brussels; if his Department does not have staff specifically assigned to monitor EU policy developments when last, if ever, were such staff specifically assigned to such a role. [20387/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Overall monitoring of EU environmental policy is co-ordinated by a unit in the Environment Division of my Department consisting of 6 staff who also have wider responsibilities in relation to international environment matters and sustainable development. Two more staff are on secondment to the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels to deal specifically with EU policies impacting on my Department. Other business units within the Department also contribute extensively to the development of EU environmental policy in a range of areas planning, water services, air, climate change and waste.

The Community Division of my Department is also responsible for the implementation of Axes 3&4 of the EU Rural Development Programme. The Programme is derived from EU Rural Development Policy and is part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In this context a small number of staff in the Community Division have a role in monitoring and participating in the continued development of CAP as it pertains specifically to Rural Development Policy.