Vol. 483 No. 3
270 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the slow rate of progress in licensing pig units by the Environmental Protection Agency; if he will supply Deputy Gormley with exact figures of the number of units which have been licenced to date in 1997; and his views on whether the agency is seriously underfunded and as a consequence cannot carry out its duties properly. [20301/97]
Integrated pollution control (IPC) licensing has been commenced for all new activities, including intensive agricultural activities, covered under the First Schedule to the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 and is being progressively phased-in for established activities. In the case of intensive pig rearing, commencement dates have already been set for established activities above 10,000 and 7,000 units from 10 March 1998 and 9 June 1998 respectively. An orderly phase-in is appropriate to meet the comprehensive requirements of the IPC licensing system fully, having regard to the volume of activity in the sector and the build up of Agency experience and organisation. Phase-in of licensing for established intensive pig rearing activities will be completed as rapidly as possible.
Administration of the IPC licensing system, including the provision of statistics generally and on individual categories of licensable activity, is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency.
The total Estimates provision for the Environmental Protection Agency in the current year and 1998 is £5.840 million and £6.859 million respectively. This substantial increase for 1998 reflects the Government's commitment to the ongoing build up of the Agency and its functions. In addition to its Exchequer grant, the Agency has substantial own-resources income, primarily from integrated pollution control licensing and from services provided to local authorities. Overall, I am satisfied that the Environmental Protection Agency has appropriate resources to effectively carry out its duties.
