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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 Nov 1972

Vol. 264 No. 3

Written Answers. - Environmental Services.

111.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he will outline the work carried out by the environmental services section of his Department.

Following are the main elements in the work programme of the environmental services section of my Department:

Air and Water Pollution

(a) Taking part in the work of the inter-departmental working group on air and water pollution and servicing the group.

(b) Promoting the best use of existing arrangements. This includes such matters as the operation of the Alkali etc. Works Regulation Act, 1909; regulations on air pollution control under the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act, 1962: promotion of better monitoring and control arrangements locally; and a general programme of advising and assisting local authorities in dealing with pollution in their areas.

Oil Pollution

(a) Settling arrangements, with the assistance of a liaison group, for clearance of oil pollution from coastal areas.

(b) Providing general advice and assistance to local authorities in dealing with this and related problems.

Water Safety

(a) Promotion of water safety, mainly through the agency of the Irish Water Safety Association.

(b) Promotion of the swimming pools programme.

EEC etc., Environmental Programmes

(a) Dealing on behalf of this country with the EEC in relation to environmental matters, in particular taking part in development of EEC policy.

(b) Dealing with other international bodies on general environmental issues.

The foregoing includes liaison with other Departments concerned.

The section also deals with certain other services. Apart from miscellaneous services such as cleaning and waste disposal they include the fire service and the itinerant settlement programme.

It will be appreciated that the activities of other sections also of my Department have relevance to a subject with such wide connotations as the environment. The Planning (Development) Section deals, inter alia, with the amenity aspects of planning development while the Sanitary Services Section is responsible for the programmes for water and sewerage services. The Environmental Services, Planning and Sanitary Services Sections are grouped in one Environmental Division under an Assistant Secretary.

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