Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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591. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when his decision to move environment related policy into a single Department with responsibility for climate change and energy will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14653/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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A range of functions currently undertaken by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will transfer into my Department in the coming weeks and the Department will be renamed the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to reflect this.  In addition to its current functions, my Department will assume responsibility for the following sections from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government:

- Environment Policy & Awareness;

- Climate Policy;

- EU and International Environmental Policy;

- Waste Policy & Resource Efficiency;

- Air Quality/Environmental Radiation Policy;

- Environment Advisory Unit

My Department is liaising  with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on the timescale for the finalisation of the transfer of functions order and both Departments are working on the legal, resource and logistics issues to ensure the implementation of the change occurs as soon as possible.