asked the Minister for Finance the number of officers in his Department engaged on environmental activity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Environmental Activity Officers.
87.
No officer in the Department of Finance is directly engaged on environmental activity. Three officers are, however, engaged part-time on the financial aspects of environmental policy questions.
The following is the position in offices for which I have responsibility:
Office of Public Works
Five hundred and thirty officers are engaged in work associated with national parks, national monuments and Shannon navigation.
State Laboratory
Five officers are engaged in work involving river water analysis for effluent contamination, sea water for heavy metals, general survey of pollution levels in certain harbours, heavy metals in animal feeding stuffs and contamination of vegetation and pesticide analysis.
Could the Minister say if there has been quite an increase in the number of offices employed strictly through the Office of Public Works, which is under his jurisdiction, in regard to environmental matters?
I cannot say what the rate of growth has been but I know the Parliamentary Secretary is very interested in this field.
I was also.
Together we will clean up the environment.