Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he has taken to clamp down on illegal environmental crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5574/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The effective prevention, detection and prosecution of environmental crime is an increasingly complex and multi-agency area of criminal justice. My Department’s role is to provide a comprehensive environmental legislative and policy framework within which the relevant enforcement authorities operate.  Much enforcement activity takes place at local authority level, with the support, as appropriate, of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Revenue Commissioners, An Garda Síochána and other bodies. The Office of Environmental Enforcement within the EPA has a mandate to deliver enhanced environmental compliance through enforcement of EPA licences issued to waste, industrial and other activities. It also exercises a supervisory role in respect of the environmental protection activities of local authorities.

I have made clear my commitment to support the work of the EPA and the local authorities in this vital area. Income from the Environment Fund is used to support a range of enforcement measures. Specifically, I am providing funding to support the work of 120 waste enforcement officers in the local government sector. The level of intimidation to which local authority staff engaged in such work have been subjected is also a cause of concern. As part of the implementation of the Government’s new waste policy, A Resource Opportunity, my Department is working closely with the full range of enforcement agencies within the State to ensure a robust enforcement framework is in place both to deter and respond to such criminal activity.