David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons in his Department who hold qualifications in environmental protection and are available to advise him on such matters; the level of each of their qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15872/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department employs staff with a wide range of professional qualifications in the environment area. All professional and technical staff recruited into my Department are required to possess the necessary qualifications and experience for the posts concerned and these are specified for the individual competitions. The general requirements for recruitment to the Environment Inspectorate of my Department are a degree in a relevant discipline such as Engineering or Science and 5 years relevant post-qualification experience. The Environment Inspectorate advises me in relation to technical and scientific aspects of my Department's environmental business agendas and currently comprises 7 staff. In addition there are 17 staff in the Water Inspectorate who advise in relation to the water services investment programme and water quality. The general qualifications for recruitment to the Water Inspectorate are a degree in engineering plus 5 years relevant post-qualification experience.

My Department's Planning Inspectorate numbers 4 at present and they advise in relation to the interface between planning and environment protection. The general qualifications for recruitment are a recognised qualification in town and country planning, or ordinary membership of the Irish Planning Institute or Royal Town Planning Institute and 7 years relevant post-qualification experience. The Building Standards Inspectorate of 5 persons advise inter alia in relation to energy conservation standards in buildings and the general recruitment qualifications are a degree in Architecture or Engineering plus 5 years relevant post-qualification experience. In addition, many administrative staff have third level qualifications in a variety of subjects. However, my Department's Human Resources records do not hold information in a way that would readily identify the number of such staff that hold qualifications in Environmental Protection.

Agencies under the aegis of my Department are also available to advise on environmental protection matters, in particular, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII). The EPA has responsibilities for a wide range of environmental licensing, enforcement, monitoring and assessment activities, as well as the provision of support and advisory services for the purposes of environmental protection to local authorities and other public authorities, including my Department. The RPII provides information to the Government and public on matters relation to radiological safety and protection. The Institute is the statutory regulator for the custody and use of sources of ionizing radiation, and also conducts environmental monitoring and provides advice on these matters.