asked the Minister for the Environment the number of technical staff in local authorities in this country; the corresponding number for each of the last five years; and if he will outline the increasing responsibilities for implementing the EC toxic waste directive and other similar EC or nationally imposed standards in the light of those numbers of staff.
Written Answers. - Local Authority Technical Staff.
18.
The staffing returns furnished to my Department by local authorities on an annual basis combine professional and technical staff into one category. The returns show that the number of staff in the professional/technical category employed in local authorities on 31 December in each of the last five years is as follows: 1987, 2,700; 1986,2,915; 1985, 2,904; 1984, 2,915; and 1983, 2,847. These figures include permanent, temporary and part time staff.
The larger local authorities (county councils and county borough corporations) are responsible under the European Communities (Toxic and Dangers Waste) Regulations, 1982 for all aspects of management of hazardous waste disposal in their areas. There is no evidence that implementation of these regulations is inhibited by technical staffing constraints. Regulations governing control and supervision of transfrontier shipment of hazardous wastes which came into operation in this country on 1 November 1988 relate mainly to pre-notification procedures and documentary requirements and have no significant staffing implications for local authorities.