Noel Dempsey
Question:49 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the number and names of the local authorities that have environmental management systems. [10470/95]
Written Answers. - Environmental Management Systems.
In the document "Local Authorities and Sustainable Development: Guidelines on Local Agenda 21" which I have published this week, local authorities are requested to consider, inter alia, adopting a voluntary environmental management system, possibly based on the Irish national standard IS:310 or on the EU eco-management and audit scheme, EMAS. My Department does not have detailed information on the extent to which such systems may already be in operation in particular local authorities. In general, however, environmental management systems, whether for the public or private sectors, are at a formative stage throughout the EU, as evidenced by the commencement of EMAS in April 1995.