Written answers

Thursday, 19 February 2015

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Departmental Funding

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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197. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of public funding that has been provided to An Taisce, each year, in the past five years; if he will provide details of the way this public funding is spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7492/15]

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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198. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of public funding that has been spent by An Taisce, each year, in the past five years, in the act of legal challenges, judicial reviews, and so on, against State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7493/15]

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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199. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views that public funds may be used to obstruct State agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7494/15]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 to 199, inclusive, together.

A total of €3.78 million, as set out in the following table, has been provided by my Department to An Taisce over the past five years.

DECLG Funding to An Taisce

Source20102011201220132014Total
DECLG Vote0 0 0 0 275,492 275,492
Environment Fund834,424 766,014 753,200 736,800 415,000 3,505,438
Total834,424 766,014 753,200 736,800 690,492 3,780,930


This funding was used primarily to support a range of environmental activities and public awareness initiatives, including the National Spring Clean initiative; a contribution to the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) National Litter League; the Green Schools initiative; implementation of the Bathing Water Quality Regulations; and the Blue Flag Awards. Funding also supported an All-Ireland Clean Coast Symposium; provision of Merit Awards to heighten awareness of coastal amenities and encourage participation in Coastcare groups; and raising awareness of marine environmental issues.

The funding provided also supported An Taisce in building an effective capacity to engage in the policy formulation aspect of the planning process in accordance with its prescribed role. An Taisce is specifically precluded, however, from using this funding, which totalled €150,000 over the five years concerned, in relation to participation in individual planning applications.

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