Pat the Cope Gallagher
Ceist:21 Mr. P. Gallagher (Donegal South West) asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase funding for the Environmental Protection Agency. [9967/95]
Written Answers. - Environmental Protection Agency.
Colm M. Hilliard
Ceist:34 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase funding for the Environmental Protection Agency. [9966/95]
Seán Doherty
Ceist:44 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase funding for the Environmental Protection Agency. [9964/95]
Síle de Valera
Ceist:75 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase funding for the Environmental Protection Agency. [9963/95]
Chris Flood
Ceist:77 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase funding for the Environmental Protection Agency. [9965/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 34, 44, 75 and 77 together.
I am satisfied that the Environmental Protection Agency is being adequately funded and I have no immediate plans to increase its funding in 1995. The total Estimates provision of £5.12 million for the current year, including current and capital spending, represents an increase of 16 per cent over the 1994 outturn. This reflects the continuing build up of the Environmental Protection Agency organisation and its administration of the environmental monitoring, research and development sub-programme of the Environmental Services Operational Programme, 1994-99. In addition to its Exchequer grant, the agency has substantial income from its integrated licensing function, which is self-financing, and from services provided to local authorities.