Vol. 490 No. 5
25 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will extend the concept of ENFO, the environmental information service, to centres outside of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10537/98]
ENFO services are already available on a nationwide basis. Information leaflets produced by ENFO are available in public offices throughout the country and the query-answering service can be availed of from all areas by post, telephone, fax and e-mail. The nationwide availability of ENFOs services has been significantly improved with the launch of ENFO's website on the Internet which, inter alia, gives access to the full text of its information leaflets, allows users to search ENFO's extensive database of environmental references, and includes links to other sources of environmental information on the Internet. Exhibition material on various environmental topics is made available by ENFO to local venues around the country and is an important means of raising environmental awareness.
While I have no plans to open further ENFO offices at regional level, I will ensure that the ENFO concept continues to be made available as widely as possible, through appropriate collaborations with local authorities and interested parties throughout the country, and through the full exploitation of all information media.
