Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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265. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will respond to issues raised by a person (details supplied) regarding the reconfiguration of his Department and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14263/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Restructuring of Government Departments is a matter for the Taoiseach and following on from the Taoiseach’s stated intention to restructure Departments of State to align with the priority objectives of the Government, responsibility for the environment, including climate change, will transfer from my Department to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. That Department will be renamed the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the transfer of functions is completed.

The statutory transfer of functions process to give effect to these changes in respect of the environment portfolio is underway. On completion, responsibility for functions, including climate policy; waste policy and resource efficiency; and air quality and environmental radiation policy, will transfer to the new Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

Responsibility for water quality remains with my Department in recognition of the intrinsic links between water quality and wider water services policy and legislation. There are, however, established and effective working arrangements in place to manage the relationship between water quality and the wider environmental remit and I will work closely with Minister Naughten to ensure that this relationship is maintained.