Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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137. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has reduced funding to the Environmental Protection Agency since 2007; if so, if he will provide an annual breakdown of the reduced funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32339/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The financial allocations to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), comprising funding from both the Exchequer and the Environment Fund, for the years specified is set out in the table below. It should be noted that the figures do not include income generated by the EPA itself from licensing fees, etc.

Funding to the Agency increased between 2007 and 2009, owing to the assignment of additional functions to the Agency, such as monitoring and assessment under the Water Framework Directive and increased funding for research and development during the period.

Given the constraints on public funds in more recent times, funding for the Agency, akin to most bodies, was reduced in the period from 2010 to 2013. Notwithstanding this, the Agency continued to meet all critical national and international regulatory and other obligations, through careful management and prioritisation of resources, for which the Agency is to be commended.

The increase in funding in 2014 incorporated the funding hitherto provided separately to the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) by my Department, which was then provided to the EPA following the merger of both organisations with effect from 1 August 2014. The funding allocated to the EPA for 2015 is higher than the outturn in 2014, reflecting the continued improvement in the national fiscal situation and the priority accorded to the role of the Agency.

Environmental Protection Agency Funding 2007 – 2015 (€000)

* allocation for 2015