Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 1

Written Answers. - Environmental Health Action Plan.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

165 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Health and Children if the draft environmental health action plan for Ireland, produced by his Department, contains a recommendation that environmental impact assessments should be replaced with environmental health impact assessments; the negotiations which have taken place between his Department and the Department of the Environment and Local Government with regard to this recommendation; the status of the recommendation at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3470/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

A national environmental health action plan, NEHAP, entitled A Shared Vision for Quality of Life is being prepared by my Department. The plan will address a wide range of environmental health issues including environmental impact assessment and health impact assessment with the objective of providing an integrated public health perspective within the framework of environmental assessments.

In October 2002 a draft of the NEHAP was circulated to Departments and State agencies involved in environmental health for their comments and observations. Discussions are ongoing between officials of my Department and the Department of the Environment and Local Government in relation to the draft plan. Following this consultation process the draft plan will be reviewed having regard to the comments and observations received.

Questions Nos. 166 and 167 answered with Question No. 110.