Vol. 397 No. 10
28 Mr. Pattison asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to establish ENFO, the new environmental information service, promised in his environment action programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter in relation to its location, the access that the public will have to it, the number of staff assigned, the budget which will be provided and the work which it will undertake from a pro-active point of view.
Negotiations for the acquisition and fitting out of a premises in Dublin city centre are nearing completion and it is the objective that the ENFO service will be operational within the next two months. The centre itself will be open to the public from Monday to Saturday, inclusive, and arrangements for a national network to distribute environmental information will also be made. A staff of three has so far been assigned to work directly on the establishment of ENFO but other staff of the Department and staff in the environmental research unit are also involved. Additional staff for the operation of the service will be assigned as required. A sum of £600,000 has been allocated this year for the establishment of ENFO.
