Trevor Sargent
Ceist:48 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will make a statement on the EPA's Millennium Report on Ireland's Environment. [14653/00]
Written Answers. - Environmental Policy.
In accordance with its legislative mandate to prepare regular state of the environment reports, the EPA published Ireland's Environment – a Millennium Report on 27 April 2000; copies are in the Oireachtas Library.
The report concludes that, overall, Ireland's environmental quality remains relatively good in comparison with that of most other European countries. However, it also recognises that economic growth over recent years is placing increasing pressure on the environment.
The report identifies five main challenges facing the environment: reducing eutrophication of inland waters, managing waste and preventing litter, protecting the urban environment, controlling greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting natural resources.
Eutrophication is identified as perhaps Ireland's most serious environmental problem. The report acknowledges the importance of the phosphorous regulations made in 1998, which set quality standards to be achieved to return the waters affected to a healthy condition. Record levels of investment in water services, IR£3 billion under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, development of catchment management strategies throughout the country, use of nutrient management planning, phase-out of phosphate-based domestic laundry detergents, and implementation of REPS are among the key measures to secure and maintain good water quality.
The regional waste management plans being developed within the policy framework, Changing Our Ways, which I launched in 1998, will be integrated strategies, building on the recognised hierarchy of prevention, minimisation, reuse-recycling and disposal. Some IR£650 million is earmarked for capital investment in the development of waste management infrastructure under the NDP and a programme of measures has been developed to complement local authority anti-litter action. In addition, individuals through choices in their daily lives have a major role to play in helping to reduce waste and tackle the litter problem.
The report recognises that the elimination of leaded petrol and the extended bans on smoky coal, as well as other measures, have made a positive contribution to the improvement of urban air quality. However, the dramatic rise in vehicle numbers and use over recent years means that more is required to meet new EU standards for nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. The NDP commits to substantial investment in public transport over the period 2000-06.
Greenhouse gases continue to grow at an unacceptable rate. If current trends persist, emissions will be nearly three times the Kyoto commitment by 2008-2012. I will shortly be bringing to Government for approval a draft national greenhouse gas abatement strategy to set the framework for meeting Ireland's Kyoto target.
In its first state of the environment report, 1996, EPA underlined the room for improvement in protecting the natural heritage. The new report recognises that, while substantial difficulties remain, progress has been made in terms of greater public information on and better resourcing for heritage protection.
Overall, the EPA report makes a major contribution to awareness of and debate on the environment and sustainable development in Ireland. It will inform and guide policy making and individual action in these areas over the years ahead.