environment bulletin - Department of Housing, Planning, Community

Transcription

environment bulletin
developments in the area of environmental protection
issue 45 – February 2000
Contents
1. General Environmental Matters
4. Planning and Forestry Matters
2
Environment Awareness Campaign
24
National Spatial Strategy
2
Ciste Páirtnéireachta Comhshaoil 2000
25
3
Environmental Partnership Fund 2000
Guidelines for Planning Authorities on
Residential Density
4
Comhar – the National Sustainable
Development Partnership
25
Protection of the Architectural Heritage
26
Planning Update
Environmental Management System for
Local Authorities
26
Seachtain Náisiúnta na gCrann 2000
26
National Tree Week 2000
27
Woodlands of Ireland – the People’s Millennium
Forest Initiative
27
Dawn Oak 2000
4
5
Environmental Indicators and
Structural Funds Programme
5
1998 Report on IPC Licensing and Control
6
Tidy Towns Relaunch
8
Dúchas and the Library Service
8
Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 1999
8
Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration Programme
28
Update on Waste Management Planning
8
Young Reporters for the Environment
29
Plastics Recycling Conference
9
Green Schools Ireland
29
Litter Enforcement Statistics
10
Esso Schools Wildlife Challenge
30
Glantachán Náisiúnta an Earraigh 2000
11
ESB Primary Schools Environmental
Awareness Awards 2000
30
National Spring Clean 2000
11
Heritage in Schools Scheme in Primary Schools
12
REVER Greenways Project
13
ESB Environmental Photography Awards 1999
13
Opening Doors to the Environment
32
Environment Council
13
Our Farmland Birds: the Past, Present and Future
32
Life Programme 2000
32
Global Assessment of the EU’s Fifth Action Programme
on Environment and Sustainable Development
33
Commission on Sustainable Development
34
UN Protocol on Biosafety
2. Water Resources
14
Drinking Water Quality
14
Local Authorities Water Pollution
Control Activities, 1998
15
Phosphorous in Detergents
15
Gradaim Bhrat Gorm na hEorpa
16
European Blue Flag Awards
17
Cyanobacteria in Lakes: Report
17
Report on UK Radioactive Dumping in the Irish Sea
18
Inland Waterways: Regional Seminars
5. Waste and Litter
6. EU and International
Environmental Matters
Appendices
36
40
41
3. Air Quality and Energy Matters
19
New Specifications for Petrol and Diesel
19
Regulations to Control Emissions from
Non-Road Mobile Machinery
19
First Results from Mobile Air Quality Units
20
Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication
and Ground Level Ozone
21
National Greenhouse Gas Abatement Strategy
21
Renewable Energy Strategy Group
22
Energy Link 1999
23
The Energy Show 2000 Exhibition and Workshops
23
EU Support for Energy Projects –
New Call for Proposals
23
Wind Energy Planning for 2000
42
44
46
48
Appendix 1
Local Agenda 21 Officers and Environmental
Education Officers
Appendix 2
The Great Gardens of Ireland
Restoration Programme
Appendix 3
Winners of the ESB Environmental
Photography Awards, 1999
Appendix 4
Local Authorities Water Pollution Control
Activities, 1998
Appendix 5
Litter Enforcement Statistics: January – June 1999
Calendar of Events /
Exhibitions at ENFO
Recent Publications
1
General Environmental Matters
The focus of the
campaign is on
solutions rather than
problems, with an
emphasis on simple
lifestyle changes,
which cumulatively
will improve our
environment.
Environment Awareness
Campaign
Ciste Páirtnéireachta Comhshaoil
2000
A major new national awareness campaign was
launched by Mr. Noel Dempsey,T.D., Minister for the
Environment and Local Government on 10 December,
1999.The campaign, which encourages individual
action and shared responsibility towards the
environment, is designed to address key environmental
themes, including waste reduction and recycling, water
quality and conser vation, air quality and climate change
including the factors which contribute to global
warming.The aim and focus of this campaign is
different to any previously under taken in Ireland: it has
been developed following research which highlights
that while people are extremely concerned about
environmental issues, they feel poorly informed about
how best to act to protect the environment. Under the
overall theme: The Environment, It's Easy to| Make a
Difference an extensive and wide-ranging public
information effor t will continue during the course of
this year.
D'fhógair an tAire Stáit sa Roinn Comhshaoil agus
Rialtais Áitiúil, An tUas. Dan Wallace,T.D., mionsonraí
comhshocruithe faoi fheidhmiú Chiste Páir tnéireachta
Comhshaoil 2000.
The aim is to offer straightforward solutions to
complex problems, bridging the gap between positive
attitudes to the environment and ever y day action.Too
often, the global nature of environmental problems
creates a sense of powerlessness, or an excuse for
concluding that others should act first.The focus of the
campaign is on solutions rather than problems, with an
emphasis on simple lifestyle changes which
cumulatively will improve our environment. For
example, we can decide to stop littering, to use a little
less electricity or water, to walk on shor t errands. It’s
not too difficult, either, to star t a compost heap or
recycle cans or bottles, buy products carr ying
environmental labels, use less packaging, etc.
As par t of the campaign, the Depar tment has
commissioned comprehensive research on the public’s
attitude and behaviour in relation to the environment.
This will be used to benchmark the effectiveness of
the campaign.The initial research results will be
published shor tly.
Complementar y and suppor ting action is being
under taken at local and regional level. Local
authorities, through the network of Local Agenda 21
Officers and Environmental Education Officers, have
an impor tant role (see Appendix 1).These local
contacts provide a local face for the Campaign, by
promoting the underlying messages in the way that
suits their local community best.
Further Information:
Noel Casserly, Environmental Awareness Section
tel: 01.888 2616 fax: 01.888 2014
e-mail: [email protected]
Tugadh an Ciste Páir tnéireachta Comhshaoil isteach i
1997 chun cabhrú le tionscnaimh feasachta comhshaoil
ag an leibhéal áitiúil a mbaineann comhaontuithe idir
údaráis áitiúla agus NGOanna nó grúpaí pobail leo.
Cuirfear tacaíocht i bhfoirm deontais, iomlán
£200,000, ar fáil do dhá chatagóir shonracha:
u
u
Tionscnaimh feasachta comhshaoil áitiúla
Tionscnaimh feasachta comhshaoil náisiúnta
Le déanaí sheol an Roinn feachtas ilmheán d'eolas agus
d'fheasacht phoiblí faoi shaincheisteanna comhshaoil
agus tá sé mar aidhm ag an bhfeachtas sin iompar
inmhar thana comhshaoil a aithint agus a leanacht le go
léireoidh gníomhaíocht ag an leibhéal aonair agus ag
leibhéal an phobail buair t an phobail faoin gcomhshaol
(Féach alt faoi Fheachtas Feasachta sa cholún eile ar an
leathnach seo).
Beidh gníomhaíocht tacaíochta agus cúnaimh ag an
leibhéal áitiúil agus ag an leibhéal réigiúnach
riachtanach le go n-éireoidh leis an bhfeachtas. Chuige
sin tá sé i gceist go dtacódh aighneachtaí cistíochta do
thionscnaimh i 2000 le haidhmeanna an fheachtais agus
go dtiocfaidis le téama an fheachtais sin An Comhshaol
- is furasta an scéal a athrú.
Fáiltítear roimh aighneachtaí do thionscnaimh
feasachta comhshaoil áitiúla i gcomhthéacs Local
Agenda 21. Ní mór comhoibriú ag an leibhéal áitiúil idir
údaráis áitiúla agus grúpaí pobail nó NGOanna a
bheith san áireamh sna haighneachtaí agus ní mór iad a
bheith dírithe ar fheasacht comhshaoil a ardú.
Ní mór comhshocruithe páir tnéireachta a bhunú a
bheadh níos foirmiúla agus níos fairsinge agus a
chuidíonn le haird a tharraing, tríd is tríd, ar an
gcomhshaol i bpobail áitiúla agus a spreagann
rannpháir tíocht agus tógáil aon ghutha a bheith mar
sprioc ag aighneachtaí.Tabharfar tosaíocht do
thionscnaimh a dhéanann cur síos ar an leas is féidir le
daoine aonair a dhéanamh maidir le fadhbanna
comhshaoil a réiteach nó tionscnaimh a spreagann
iompar níos freagraí. Moltar ach go háirithe
tionscnaimh a chuireann eolas nó oiliúint ar phobail
áitiúla faoi chleachtais inmhar thana comhshaoil.
Cuirfear cistíocht ar fáil do líon beag tionscnamh
feasachta comhshaoil náisiúnta a chuidíonn le haird a
tharraingt, ag an leibhéal náisiúnta, ar shaincheisteanna
a bhaineann le forbair t inmhar thana
m.sh.aird a tharraingt, oideachas agus tionscnaimh
chuí a spreagadh a bhaineann le:
u
téamaí sonracha comhshaoil lena n-áirítear bainistiú
dramhaíola, cosaint agus caomhnú uisce, cáilíocht
aeir agus athrú aeráide, úsáid/ídiú acmhainní
nádúrtha,
General Environmental Matters 5
u
tuiscint don chomhshaol a bheith san áireamh i
réimsí earnála lena n-áirítear talmhaíocht, iompar
agus tionsclaíocht, agus
u
cleachtais tomhaltóireachta agus táirgíochta
inmharthana.
D’fhéadfaí suas go 50% den chostas a chur ar fáil
d’iarratasóirí ar thionscnaimh aonair a n-éireoidh leo. Is
thar t ar £7,500 an t-uasdeontas do thionscnaimh
feasachta comhshaoil áitiúla agus is thart ar £10,000 an
t-uasdeontas do thionscnaimh feasachta comhshaoil
náisiúnta.
Éileofar or thu siúd a gheobhaidh deontas an
tionscnamh a chríochnú agus tuairisc ghairid a
dhéanamh don Roinn ar na nithe a bheidh bainte
amach ag an tionscnamh faoi 31 Márta 2000.
Tuilleadh eolais:
Elizabeth Logan,
Environmental Awareness Section,
teil: 01.888 2488 faics 01.888 2014
rphost: [email protected]
Environmental Partnership
Fund 2000
On 3 Februar y, 2000, Mr. Dan Wallace,T.D., Minister of
State at the Depar tment of Environment and Local
Government, announced details of arrangements for
the operation of the Environmental Par tnership Fund
in 2000.
The Environmental Partnership Fund was introduced in
1997 to assist environmental awareness projects at
local level which involve par tnership arrangements
between local authorities and NGOs or local
community groups.
Grant assistance to a total of £200,000 will be made
available for two specific categories:
u
u
21. Proposals should involve collaboration at local level
between local authorities and community groups or
NGOs and be aimed at raising environmental
awareness.
The objective of proposals should be the
establishment of more formal and extensive
par tnership arrangements which contribute to the
overall raising of environmental awareness in local
communities and promote par ticipation and
consensus building. Projects which spell out the
contribution which individuals can make in solving
environmental problems, or which encourage more
responsible behaviour, will be preferred. In par ticular,
projects which educate or inform local communities
on more environmentally sustainable practices are
encouraged.
Funding will also be made available for a small number
of national environmental awareness projects
which contribute to an awareness, in a national
context, of issues related to sustainable development,
e.g. stimulating awareness, education and appropriate
initiatives in relation to:
u
specific environmental themes such as waste
management, water protection and conservation, air
quality and climate change, use/depletion of natural
resources,
u
the integration of environmental considerations into
sectoral areas such as agriculture, transport and
industry, and
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sustainable production and consumption practices.
Up to 50% of the cost may be made available to
successful applicants for individual projects.The
maximum grant for local environmental awareness
projects will be in the region of £7,500, and for
national environmental awareness projects the
maximum grant will be in the region of £10,000.
Beneficiaries will be required to complete the project
and make a brief repor t to the Depar tment on its
achievements by 31 March, 2000.
Local environmental awareness projects.
National environmental awareness projects.
Elizabeth Logan, Environment Awareness Section
tel: 01.888 2488 fax: 01.888 2014
The Depar tment has recently launched a multi-media
campaign of public information and awareness on
environmental issues with the overall aim of encouraging people to identify and pursue more environmentally sustainable behaviour, so that action at individual
and community levels fully reflects public concern
about the environment (see separate ar ticle on
Awareness Campaign opposite).
Complementar y and suppor ting action at local and
regional level will be essential to the success of the
campaign. In this regard it is intended that proposals
seeking funding for projects in 2000 should suppor t
the objectives of the campaign and reflect its overall
theme The Environment, It's Easy to| Make a Difference.
Proposals for local environmental awareness
projects are invited in the context of Local Agenda
The objective of
proposals should be
the establishment of
more formal and
extensive partnership
arrangements which
contribute to the overall
raising of environmental
awareness in local
communities and
promote participation
and consensus building.
6 General Environmental Matters
Pictured at the
Conference on Local
Authority Statutory
Environmental
Performance were
Mr Noel Dempsey,
T.D., Minister for the
Environment and
Local Government,
Mr Donal Connolly,
Waterford County
Manager, Mr Joe
Beirne, Mayo County
Engineer, and Ms Anne
Butler, Director, EPA.
Comhar – the National
Sustainable Development
Partnership
Comhar continues to develop its work on a variety of
areas relating to sustainable development, in line with
its three-year work programme (see Environment
Bulletin No. 43). In recent months, it has discussed
issues and prepared recommendations arising from the
Planning and Development Bill, 1999, and the
proposed National Greenhouse Gas Abatement
Strategy. Representatives of Comhar met with the
OECD team carr ying out an environmental
performance review of Ireland, and the December
Plenar y meeting was briefed on the Depar tment’s
major new environmental awareness campaign. Areas
currently being worked on by Comhar include Local
Agenda 21, and waste prevention and management,
while major issues to be addressed shor tly include the
Operational Programmes under the National
Development Plan, and future EU policy on the
environment and sustainable development.
Further information:
Maureen Doyle, Marie Hughes or Ida Connolly;
Comhar Secretariat, 17 St.Andrew Street, Dublin 2
tel: 01.888 3990 fax: 01.888 3999
e-mail: [email protected])
Environmental Management
System for Local Authorities
At a conference held in Clarinbridge, Co. Galway on
18 November, 1999, Mr. Noel Dempsey T.D., Minister
for the Environment and Local Government, launched
an Environmental Management System for assessing
the performance of statutor y environmental
protection functions by local authorities.
The Environmental Management System has been
developed by the EPA as par t of its brief to work
closely with local authorities to protect and enhance
the environment, in conjunction with local authorities
and the Depar tment of the Environment and Local
Government. It is being piloted by Cork, Cavan and
Galway County Councils and, following a review of its
operation, it will be extended to other local
authorities.The system will provide a tool for the
authorities to manage their environmental protection
functions and to repor t on performance of these
functions.
There is also a statutor y obligation on the EPA to
exercise general super vision over the environmental
protection performance of local authorities, who deal
with over 300 environmental protection functions
contained within some 100 pieces of legislation.
Gerard O’Leary, EPA Headquarters, PO Box 3000,
Johnstown Castle Estate, Co Wexford
tel: 053.60600 fax: 053.60699
Environmental Indicators and
Structural Funds Programmes
1998 Report on IPC Licensing and
Control
A seminar on Environmental Indicators and Structural
Funds Programmes was hosted by the Depar tment of
the Environment and Local Government in the
Custom House on 9 December, 1999, against the
background of the need to address environmental
issues in all Community Suppor t Framework (CSF)
expenditure programmes.The aim of the seminar was
to provide information on environmental indicators
already identified at national level and to assist
Depar tments and agencies in the design and
application of environmental indicators for
Operational Programmes 2000 – 2006.The seminar
was attended by officials from Depar tments and
agencies involved in the development of these
programmes.
The EPA has recently issued its fourth annual report on
Integrated Pollution Control (IPC).The repor t details the
work completed in the areas of licensing and
enforcement in addition to providing information on
the environmental performance of IPC facilities.
Details are also included of the types of compliance
data collected by companies and enforcement actions
taken by the EPA where non-compliance with an IPC
licence was detected.
Three speakers addressed the seminar on the
following issues:
Licensing: By the end of 1998, a total of 480 licence
applications had been received by the EPA and 328
IPC licences had been granted.
In 1998:
u
104 IPC licence applications were received and 137
licences granted.
u
u
Submissions on licence applications totalled 339.
Forty-three IPC licence applications were made for
the pig sector, the largest number for a single sector.
u
Dave Hegarty, CSF Evaluation Unit, Department of
Finance – on the question of the CSF and indicator s
with particular reference to EU Regulations,
u
u
Dr. Mícheál Lehane, Environmental Protection Agency
– on the state of the environment and EPA work on
the development of environmental indicators,
Geographically, County Cork had the largest number
of applications with 27.
u
Kevin Bradley, Environmental Resource Management
(ERM) – on issues raised in a report by the
consultants for the CSF Environment Co-ordinating
Committee on developing environmental indicators.
Five facilities failed to submit an appropriate IPC
licence application and the EPA initiated legal
proceedings against them.
u
Six permits and one draft permit were issued for oil
storage and distribution terminals to control petrol
vapour emissions under the new Volatile Organic
Compound Emissions Regulations .
u
Kevin Greene, Environment Policy Section,
tel: 01.888 2390 fax: 01.888 2691
The EPA instigated prosecution proceedings in eight
cases during 1998 where an infringement was of a
serious nature or where the licensee’s responses were
unsatisfactor y. All were successful. Seven of those
Pictured at the launch
of the IPC licensing
and Control Annual
Report 1998 are Mr.
Iain McLean, Director,
EPA, and Dr. Gerry
Byrne, Programme
Manager, Programme
Manager, EPA.
Tidy Towns Relaunch
On 17 Januar y, 2000, Mr Noel Dempsey,T.D., Minister
for the Environment and Local Government, launched
the Tidy Towns for the Millennium scheme.
Figure 1
Breakdown of all
complaints
received in 1998.
Initiatives for 2000 include a 30% increase in prize
money, new medal awards and a contemporar y
marketing programme.The changes in the competition
have resulted from a review carried out last year
involving Tidy Towns committees throughout the
countr y. Working with the national sponsors,
SuperValu, the Depar tment of the Environment and
Local Government is aiming at enhancing the
competition’s appeal to regular entrants and attracting
wider interest from both urban and rural communities.
Procedures 1%
Water 2%
Air 3%
Miscellaneous 3%
Noise 13%
Odour 78%
prosecutions were taken in the District Cour ts. One
file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
All information generated on licensing within the IPC
system is publicly available.The EPA is working to
ensure that more environmental information is readily
accessible to the public and has placed all proposed
and full licences on its web site at www.epa.ie
Inspections: In 1998, the EPA completed 1,968 visits
to IPC facilities, a 40 per cent increase on the number
of inspections in 1997. Of this total, 1,224 visits were
to sample emissions, with the remaining 744 visits for
auditing and inspection purposes.
In 1998, the EPA
completed 1,968
visits to IPC facilities,
a 40 per cent increase
on the number of
inspections in 1997.
Compliance information was also gathered by the
review of complaints made against IPC facilities.The
total number of complaints from the public, dealt with
by the EPA, in relation to IPC licensed facilities in 1998
was 1,041. In addition to these, 856 complaints were
repor ted by IPC licensees to the EPA, giving a total of
1,897 complaints for 1998. A breakdown of all
complaints regarding IPC facilities received in 1998 is
given in Figure 1.The complaints received mainly
related to odour, noise, water pollution, air pollution,
procedures and miscellaneous.The vast bulk of the
complaints related to odour (78%) and noise (13%).
Copies of the Report on IPC Licensing & Control,
1998 (cost £5) are available from:
EPA Publications, EPA Regional Inspectorate,
St. Martin’s House,Waterloo Road, Dublin 4
tel: 01.667 4474 fax: 01.660 5848
Email: [email protected]
Dara Lynott, EPA Headquarters, PO Box 3000,
Johnstown Castle Estate, Co.Wexford
tel: 053.60600 fax: 053.60699
The new arrangements will involve the Tidy Towns
committees, the Depar tment, SuperValu, regional
tourism organisations and local authorities working in
par tnership to enhance and modernise one of
Ireland’s most successful voluntar y movements.
Enhancements include:
(i) New Medal System – Gold, Silver and Bronze
Medals will be awarded to all towns and villages that
achieve marks within a cer tain range of the marks of
the National winner in each of the six population
categories.
Medal-winning towns and villages will receive a
plaque and road-sign to be displayed in their
community for the year. Based on 1999 Tidy Towns
results, it is envisaged that the new Tidy Towns Medal
will introduce an additional twenty five award winning
centres to the competition.
(ii) Prize Fund Increased by £25,300 – the total Tidy
Towns prize fund has increased by £25,300 (30%) to
£78,500, and the number of plaques and cer tificates
which will be awarded has doubled.
(iii) Urban Village – the Department of the Environment
and Local Government has also increased funding
substantially, including the introduction of grant
assistance totalling £18,000 this year to assist the
five county borough councils in promoting the
competition in the cities.
(iv) National Marketing Programme – As a result of
national research carried out last Autumn, significant
changes in the competition structure and in how Tidy
Towns is marketed have been devised, and will be
implemented over a three year period.The research
indicated that the general public believes Tidy Towns
has had a significant beneficial impact on the Irish
landscape and has made a major contr ibution to the
tourism industry in particular. However, there was
limited knowledge of how the competition actually
operates and many respondents felt Tidy Towns was
more relevant to older age groups in rural
communities. A new logo and brand identity has been
developed to bring a contemporary feel to the
competition. National television advertising is also
planned to build awareness of the competition and of
the major impact Tidy Towns has had in regenerating
communities.
of the Tidy Towns 2000
are: Eoin McGettigan,
Chief Executive
of Super Valu, Sadbh
O’Brien, Katie Shiels
and Mr Noel Dempsey,
T.D, Minister for the
Environment and
Local Government.
(v) £1.6 million Sponsorship Commitment –
Competition sponsors SuperValu has committed an
investment of £1.6 million over the next three years
to fund the improved prize money and national
promotion of the competition.Taken with the funding
provided by the Department and the other sponsors,
the value of the total investment in Tidy Towns over
the next three years will be £2 million.
Janet McDonald,Tidy Towns Unit,
tel: 01.888 2300 fax: 01.888 2286
Species (CITES) and the African-Eurasian Migratory
Waterbirds Agreement (AEWA),
Dúchas and the Library Service
In 1998, Mr Noel Dempsey,T.D., Minister for the
Environment and Local Government produced a
Repor t – Branching Out – A New Public Librar y Ser vice –
on the future of the librar y ser vice in Ireland. As par t
of the recommendations in the repor t, Dúchas, the
Heritage Ser vice of the Depar tment of Ar ts, Heritage,
Gaeltacht and the Islands was charged with a
responsibility to inspire a sense of wonder in, and
responsibility towards, our natural and built heritage.
Dúchas aims at using the librar y ser vice to develop a
local contact point for information on heritage issues
and also to give priority to the development of such
information on the Internet.
Students can work as an
entire class or as a small
team to undertake a
year-long project on
one of the six following
environmental themes –
Agriculture, Cities,
Energy, Waste,
Coastline and Water.
Following discussions with the Librar y Council, Dúchas
is implementing a pilot project with libraries in
Blanchardstown, Kilkenny,Tipperar y, Ennis and Galway.
Dedicated shelf space for Dúchas publications will be
provided and space will be made available for a
Dúchas notice board of heritage activities. A heritage
information website developed by Dúchas will be
promoted in all public libraries.
u
increase substantially the level of fines for
contravention of the Wildlife Acts and provide, for the
first time, for the imposition of prison sentences,
where appropriate,
u
provide mechanisms to allow the Minister for Arts,
Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands to act
independently of forestry legislation, for example, in
relation to the acquisition of land by agreement,
u
strengthen the protective regime for Special Areas of
Conservation (SACs) by removing any doubt that
protection will in all cases apply from the time of
notification of proposed sites, and,
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give specific statutory recognition to the conservation
of biological diversity, which is now a key concept in
the area of global ecology.
Katherine Ward, Heritage Policy,
Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht
and the Islands,
43/49 Mespil Road, Dublin 4
tel: 01.647 3000 fax: 01.647 3051
It is intended that the pilot project will be operational
by March 2000.
Catherine Doherty, Press Officer,
Dúchas – the Heritage Service,
51 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
tel: 01.647 3000 lo-call: 1890.474847
fax: 01.661 6764
website: www.heritageireland.ie
Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 1999
Second Stage debate of the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill
1999 began in Dáil Éireann in December 1999, and is
expected to resume shor tly. It is hoped that the Bill
will be passed by the Oireachtas by Summer 2000.
The Bill is a logical development and extension of
our wildlife conservation effort and seeks to:
u
provide a mechanism for the statutory protection of
Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs),
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make use of the NHA mechanism to provide
statutory protection for the first time for important
geological and geomorphological sites, including fossil
sites,
u
generally strengthen the provisions for the protection
of wildlife species and their habitats ,
u
enhance, in the interests of conservation, a number of
existing controls in respect of hunting,
u
introduce new provisions to regulate the activities of
commercial shoot operators,
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ensure and strengthen compliance with international
agreements and, in particular, enable Ireland to ratify
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Great Gardens of Ireland
The Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration Programme
was established in 1994 to restore Ireland’s most
significant and historic gardens and to open them to
the public on a regular basis as a tourist attraction.
Grants were given under the Operational Programme
for Tourism, 1994-1999.
The Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration Programme
ended in December, 1999 and a list of all grants given
is attached in Appendix 2.
Beverly Sherwood, Bord Failte, Baggot St., Dublin 2
tel: 01.602 4365 or
Douglas Jordan, Bord Failte, Baggot St., Dublin 2
tel: 01.602 4124
Young Reporters for the
Environment
Young Repor ters for the Environment (YRE) is an
ambitious environmental education programme for
Transition Year students. Students can work as an
entire class or as a small team to under take a year-long
project on one of the six following environmental
themes – Agriculture, Cities, Energy, Waste, Coastline
and Water.
Pictured at the GreenSchools Seminar at the
Dublin Corporation last
December are:
Carla Ward,AnTaisce’s
Environmental Education Unit Manager;
Nessa O’Connor,
Green-Schools Manager;
Marcus O’Philbin,
Principal, Our Lady of
Victories Boys National
School; Margaret
Foynes, Environmental
Education Officer,
Dublin Corporation.
The programme operates at national and European
level.The deadline for submission of European-level
project proposals has expired, but it is still possible to
register for a national-level project.
In the case of a national project, the students should
carr y out a journalistic inquir y on a local
environmental problem or issue and become directly
involved with the bodies or individuals concerned (e.g.
politicians, companies, associations, etc.).They then
inform the public of their findings via the local media,
e.g. television, radio, newspapers or exhibitions.
The YRE project provides invaluable experience for
students as they come into direct contact with the key
players in their community. It improves their
communication and journalistic skills and encourages
teamwork among the class.
A fur ther addition to the programme this year is to
offer national project groups the oppor tunity to
confer with other European YRE schools on the web
to exchange information and ideas (this was previously
only open to European project par ticipants).This will
help students to familiarise themselves with the
Internet and it also ser ves to promote links with
European counterpar ts.There is no obligation to work
via the Internet, and ser vices are merely offered as a
complementar y tool of information and co-operation.
A class environmental project proposal may be
registered by either directly accessing the ‘Chief
Editor’s Office’ on the YRE website
(www.youngrepor ters.org), or, alternatively, by
submitting a proposal to the Environmental Education
Unit in An Taisce.
Lisa Cassidy,YRE Manager,
Environmental Education Unit,
An Taisce,Tailors Hall, Back Lane, Dublin 8
tel/fax: 01.454 1802
websites:www.antaisce.org www.feee.org
www.youngreporters.org
Green-Schools Ireland
Young Reporters for the
Environment Illustration
Green-Schools, the European-wide environmental
education programme and award scheme, is now in its
third year (See Environment Bulletin No. 44). GreenSchools is an initiative of the Foundation for
Environmental Education in Europe (FEEE) and is
operated by An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland
in par tnership with 31 local authorities and suppor ted
by Coca-Cola.
Pictured at the
launch of the Esso
Schools’ Wildlife
Challenge are: Don
Conroy, wildlife artist
and author, Niamh
Wood, Public Affairs
Manager, Esso Ireland
and pupils from
Scoil Eoin, Kilbarrack,
Dublin: Joanne Kelch,
Louise O’Neill,
Kenneth Giles and
Leanne Higgins.
There are now nearly 600 schools (15% of all schools)
registered as Green-Schools, with 165,000 pupils
actively involved.The prestigious Green Flag is held by
23 schools currently. It is awarded when schools have
successfully completed the seven steps of the programme.The first themes introduced are Litter and
Waste and Waste Minimisation and Recovery
and subsequent themes deal with Energy,Water,
School Grounds,Transport and Healthy Living.
Green-Schools is a structured yet flexible programme
suitable for all schools, primar y and secondar y. It is also
a suitable Action Project for Civics, Social and Political
Education (CSPE) students, and is credited by the
Depar tment of Education and Science. CSPE Action
Projects count for 60% of the marks awarded in the
Junior Cer tificate Examination.
The second round of teacher training seminars is
currently under way across the countr y.These
seminars introduce the Green-Schools programme
directly to teachers and provide a suppor t network for
schools already involved.
Nessa O’Connor, Green-Schools Manager,
An Taisce,Tailors’ Hall, Back Lane, Dublin 8
tel: 01.454 1819 fax: 01.454 1802
websites: www.antaisce.org www.feee.org
www.eco-schools.org
Esso Schools’ Wildlife Challenge
The Esso Schools’ Wildlife Challenge for 1999/2000
was launched on 14 November, 1999 at the BirdWatch
Ireland Open Day in Bull Island.The Challenge is a
thir ty-two county curriculum-based competition
which encourages primar y school children to explore
their local environment as well as taking an active
interest in its improvement.The competition is
sponsored by Esso Ireland and Esso UK in association
with BirdWatch Ireland and the Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds. It is open to 4th,5th and 6th
classes in the Republic of Ireland, Primar y 5, 6 and 7 in
Nor thern Ireland and children of similar age who may
wish to enter through youth clubs or other
organisations. Since its establishment in 1992 over
90,000 children have taken up the “Esso Challenge”.
The theme of this year’s challenge is Wildlife and your
Local Patch and the competition is being run on two
levels – one for individual entries and one for classes.
Level One is an individual challenge to compose and
illustrate a car toon. Level Two is a group or class
challenge where the children are asked to sur vey an
area in their locality and take ten simple steps to
improve it.This year’s prizes include a wildlife day out
with Don Conroy, a specially commissioned painting
and a selection of wildlife books.The closing date for
this year’s competition is 24 March, 2000.
Information packs on this year’s challenge have been
sent to ever y national school in the Republic of Ireland
and all primar y schools in Nor thern Ireland.
Geraldine Van Esbeck, Slattery PR,
22 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
tel: 01.661 4055 fax: 01.661 4106
ESB Primary Schools
Environmental Awareness
Awards 2000
The ESB Primar y Schools Environmental Awareness
Awards for 2000 were launched in December 1999.
The overall aim of the awards is to foster an
appreciation of the environment among young people
by encouraging them to under take practical
community or school based projects to improve their
surroundings.
In tandem with ESB's sponsorship of a major eight par t
television series on modern Irish architecture, “Nation
Building”, which star ted transmission in Februar y 2000
on RTE television, there will be a special emphasis this
year on projects dealing with a new categor y, the Built
Environment.This is the third year that the
competition, which has a prize fund of £24,000, has
been run on a nation-wide basis since it was launched
by St. Patrick’s College in 1991.
Last year, Ken O’Hara, Chief Executive, ESB and TV
personality Shauna Lowr y presented a plaque and
cheque to the principal and pupils from Sacred Hear t
Primar y School, Ballymahon, Co. Longford for their
restoration of a local park.
Heritage in Schools Scheme in
Primary Schools
During 1999, the Heritage in Schools Scheme was run
on a pilot basis in Dublin/Wicklow and Clare/Galway
by the Heritage Council in par tnership with the Irish
National Teachers’ Organisation, who administered the
scheme. It is based on the Writers in Schools Scheme
run by the Ar ts Council. Due to the success of the
pilot scheme, the Heritage Council has now been
allocated £60,000 from its 2000 budget to expand the
scheme on a nation-wide basis.
The aim of the Heritage in Schools Scheme is to give
schools the oppor tunity to arrange visits with an
individual who has a specific heritage interest. It is
hoped that schools would build up a relationship with
these individuals which may be extended to include
trips to sites of heritage interest and other activities.
A panel of heritage specialists, covering all aspects of
heritage, will be formed during Februar y 2000. A pack
will be circulated to all primar y schools listing the
members of the panel, explaining the details of how
the scheme works, and including guidelines and a
comment card. Under the scheme, schools should
arrange visits directly with the specialists and the
Heritage Council will fund 50% of the fee.
Siobhan Calpin,Wilson Hartnell Public Relations,
14 Leeson Park, Dublin 6
tel: 01.496 0244
Beatrice Kelly,The Heritage Council,
Rothe House, Kilkenny
tel: 056.70777 fax: 056.70788
e-mail: [email protected] or
Edna Jordan, INTO, 35 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
of the ESB Primary
Schools Environmental Awareness
Awards are some
children from Mater
Dei N.S. in Basin
Lane, Dublin 2 with
John Keating, artist,
painting a hoarding
around City Hall in
a bid to improve our
Built Environment.
Pictured at the ESB
Environmental
Photography Awards
ceremony are: (L–R)
Mary O’Rourke T.D.,
Minister for Public
Enterprise, Mr Billy
Mc Cann, Chairman,
ESB and Edward W.
Delaney, Mill Cottage,
Bawnmore, New Ross,
Co.Wexford who won
second prize in the
amateur category.
REVER Greenways project
The Heritage Council is a par tner in an INTERREG
11C project called REVER (Reseau Ver t Européen –
European Greenways Network) aimed at promoting
the concept of greenways in the nor th west
metropolitan area (NWMA) of the EU over a period
of two years star ting in Januar y 2000.
A greenway is a route or a network of routes, mainly
off the road, for travellers of all abilities and using
different kinds of non motorised transpor t – walking,
cycling, horse riding, roller-skating – for leisure and for
commuting or other utilitarian purposes. In other
words, a greenway connects people to facilities, open
spaces and sites of interest in and around cities, towns
and the countr yside.
The aim of greenways is to protect heritage features in
the landscape through finding a new, sustainable use. In
par ticular, heritage features such as disused canal lines,
railway lines and their ancillar y features could be
preser ved. Greenways also offer people the chance to
encounter aspects of built and natural heritage as well
as contributing to an improvement in the general
quality of life.
u
favour local development and promote
redevelopment of rural regions or regions undergoing
recession,
u
encourage protection and enhancement of the
heritage associated with disused transport
infrastructures (old railway stations, lock facilitates,
railway signalling, engineering works, etc.).
An information meeting on the project was held in
Kilkenny on 20 Januar y which was attended by
representatives from local authorities, farming
organisations, health promotion organisations and
walking/cycling interests.
tel: 056.70777 fax: 056.70788
ESB Environmental Photography
Awards 1999
The aim of REVER is to:
u
pool knowledge and experience on the development
of a network of greenways at NWMA scale,
u
u
create networks for the exchange of experience,
promote and develop a transnational network
of greenways.
It is intended that this network will:
u
promote environmentally friendly non-motorised
travel for leisure and utilitarian purposes, over long
distances between urban centre and sites of interest,
u
u
improve overall mobility and user safety,
encourage the maintenance of independent transport
infrastructure,
Ms Mar y O’Rourke,T.D., Minister for Public Enterprise
and Mr Billy McCann, Chairman, ESB presented the
ESB Environmental Photography Awards 1999 in the
Galler y of Photography in Temple Bar, Dublin on 18
Januar y 2000.TV personality, ornithologist and
conser vationist, Bill Oddie also attended the
presentation where fifteen competitors, three from
each of five categories, received Awards (see list
attached at Appendix 3).
The competition was open to Irish and International
professional photographers as well as amateurs of all
levels, young and old, Irish or otherwise.This is the
third year of the competition, which has a Prize Fund
of almost £12,000.
The Awards are organised in association with the Irish
Professional Photographers’ Association.They aim at
encouraging the development of environmental
photography in Ireland and raising public awareness of
the unique and fragile beauty of our surroundings.
Entries were submitted under the following themes:
Plant Magic, Waterworld, Animal Wonders, Form &
Composition,The World in Our Hands, Wild World,
City Wonders, Where do we get our Energy? and the
The Built Environment
In assessing the entries, the judges took into
consideration picture content and treatment of
subject matter, originality of picture idea, composition,
lighting and presentation.
Further Information :
Siobhan Calpin,Wilson Hartnell Public Relations,
14 Leeson Park, Dublin 6
tel: 01.496 0244
The new Shopping and Investment Guide
for Sustainable Living available from ENFO
Our Farmland Birds: the Past,
Present and Future
Opening Doors to the
Environment
The National Environmental Education Centre (NEEC)
has under taken a new project, Opening Doors to the
Environment, suppor ted by the Depar tment of the
Environment and Local Government and Wicklow
County Council through the 1999 Environmental
Par tnership Fund.
The project is based on a research study which
assessed the needs of groups from disadvantaged
areas and those of mixed abilities and impaired
mobility.The NEEC will put the findings of the study
into practice with an extensive, accessible wildlife
garden, with the suppor t of Iarnród Eireann, FÁS and
Dúchas, the Heritage Ser vice.
The NEEC is a unique environmental education facility
in Knocksink Wood Nature Reser ve, which is open to
visitors of all ages and levels of ability, and especially to
disadvantaged and disabled groups.
Leona Hicks, National Environmental Education
Centre, Knocksink Wood Reserve,
Enniskerry, Co.Wicklow
tel: 01.286 6609 fax: 01.286 6610
BirdWatch Ireland and the Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds (RSPB), Nor thern Ireland, will host
an all Ireland Conference on Bird Conser vation in the
Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare over the weekend
of 24 - 26 March, 2000.The focus of this joint event
(now in its 34th year) is on Our Farmland Birds: the
Past, Present and Future.
A range of speakers will address key issues, taking in
topical policy developments, related habitat problems
and some practical approaches to bird conser vation
measures in these islands and elsewhere in Europe.
The speakers include Gordon D'Arcy, one of Ireland's
best known wildlife ar tists and authors; Liam Cashman
of the Legal Ser vices Unit of the EU Commission's
Environment Directorate-General;Vicki Swales, Head
of Agriculture Policy at RSPB, Kevin Standring, Countr y
Programmes Manager with RSPB's International
Division; Dr Harr y Gracey, Head of Countr yside
Management Division in the Nor thern Ireland
Depar tment of Agriculture and Rural Development;
Dick Coombes, BirdWatch Ireland's Countr yside Bird
Sur vey Field Co-ordinator, and Clive McKay, RSPB's
warden at Loch Gruinar t in Islay, Scotland.
An attractive programme of outings has also been
planned for the Saturday afternoon, taking in
the unique features of the Burren landscape and
noted birdwatching venues including the Shannon
Airpor t Lagoon.
BirdWatch Ireland, Ruttledge House,
8 Longford Place, Monkstown, Co. Dublin
tel: 01.280 4322 e-mail [email protected]
The NEEC is a unique
environmental education
facility in Knocksink
Wood Nature Reserve,
which is open to visitors
of all ages and levels of
ability, and especially to
disadvantaged and
disabled groups.
2
Drinking Water Resources
Drinking Water Quality
On 23 November, 1999, the Environmental Protection
Agency published a repor t in relation to the quality of
drinking water in respect of 1998.The repor t also
includes a comparative assessment for the period
1996-98.
The repor t finds that the overall quality of drinking
water continues to be satisfactor y.
Public Supplies: For public supplies, the repor t
indicates a compliance rate of almost 92% in relation
to coliforms standards and over 98% in relation to
other health-related parameters. In the case of
coliforms, many of the offending samples failed to
comply only because of the presence, generally in
extremely small numbers, of total coliforms
unaccompanied by faecal types.
In relation to public supplies the rate of improvement
in water quality has levelled off and the repor t
suggests that expectations of fur ther significant
improvements may not be justified.
The report indicates a
compliance rate of almost
92% in relation to
coliforms standards and
over 98% in relation to
other health-related
parameters.
Group Schemes: The repor t finds, in relation to
private group schemes sourced from private wells
(ser ving some 50,000 households or 5% of
households), that coliforms standards were exceeded
in 42% of supplies.The fact that, for the most par t,
privately sourced group water schemes deliver
untreated water directly to consumers is at the hear t
of the problem.
The water quality deficiencies in group schemes are
being comprehensively addressed by the Depar tment
of the Environment and Local Government through
the Rural Water Programme. A capital provision of
£33 million is being provided for this, an increase from
£21 million in 1998 when the programme was launched.
In 1999, the Depar tment of the Environment and
Local Government launched a new water quality
initiative to identify the causes of pollution and test
new technologies for treating problem supplies. In a
unique par tnership arrangement between the
National Federation of Group Water Schemes and
local authorities, financial assistance is being targeted
at quality deficient schemes with the objective of
putting effective treatment facilities in place as quickly
as possible. A comprehensive training programme for
group scheme operatives is addressing the operation
and management of private schemes.This process will
be facilitated by the opening this Spring of a new
dedicated Training Centre in Castlebar.
Regulations were made in November 1999 to impose
obligations on the operators of group schemes to take
appropriate measures to remedy water quality
deficiencies.Those responsible for a quality deficient
private group water scheme will in future be required
to draw up an action programme for the improvement
of the scheme.This will be done in consultation with
the relevant sanitar y authority within the overall
framework of the Rural Water Programme.
On 13 Januar y 2000, the European Commission
announced that its intention to initiate proceedings in
the European Cour t of Justice against Ireland for noncompliance with the Drinking Water Directive.The EU
Commission action arises primarily in relation to
above mentioned water quality aspects of private
group schemes.
Jim Ganley,Water Services,
tel: 096.70677 ext. 444 lo-call: 1890.202021
fax: 096.24222
Paddy Flanagan, EPA, Pottery Road,
Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
tel: 01.285 2122
Local authorities maintained a high level of activity in
1998 in relation to the protection of water quality.
Enforcement action significantly increased under the
Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts in relation
to the issue of “section 12 notices” which require
measures to be taken to prevent or deal with water
pollution.
A summary of implementation and enforcement
activity by local authorities in 1998 is outlined below:
Licensing of discharges to water
u 590 licences were in force at 31 December,
1998, a decrease of 59 on the 1997 figure.
u
52 applications were on hand with sanitary
authorities at the end of 1998, compared to
51 in 1997.
Licensing of discharges to sewers
1,083 licences were in force at the end of
1998, a decrease of 67 on the 1997 figure.
u
u
49 applications for licences were on hand
with sanitary authorities at the end of 1998,
compared with 40 in 1997.
Investigations and warnings
3,975 cases were investigated regarding entry
of polluting matter to waters and 3,448
advice/warnings issued: the corresponding figures
for 1997 were 3,904 and 3,430 respectively.
u
u
1,088 cases were investigated regarding discharges
of trade and sewage effluent to waters and 301
advice/warnings issued: the corresponding figures
for 1997 were 1,161 and 1,052 respectively.
u
1,498 cases were investigated regarding discharges to
sewers without a licence or breaches of conditions of
a licence and 988 advice/warnings issued:
the corresponding figures for 1997 were 2,014
investigations and 1,989 advice/warnings.
Drinking Water Resources 17
Formal notices
u 1,313 section 12 notices were issued in 1998,
including 1,193 in respect of agricultural activities:
this compares with 891 notices issued in 1997, of
which 758 related to agriculture.
Prosecutions
u 49 prosecutions were taken and 27 convictions were
recorded in 1998: this compares with 56 prosecutions
taken and 42 convictions in 1997.
Detailed information, based on local authority returns,
in relation to these activities is contained in Appendix 4.
Gradaim Bhrat Gorm na hEorpa
Tá tús cur tha ag an Taisce le socruithe maidir le
feidhmiú Scéim Ghradaim Bhrat Gorm na hEorpa sa
bhliain 2000. Is caighdeán cáilíochta do thránna agus
do mhuiríní é an Brat Gorm atá aitheanta I 22 tír ar fud
na hEorpa.Tugtar an Brat Gorm d’údaráis áitiúla a
dhéanann iarracht speisialta a gcuid tránna agus múiríní
a choinneáil glan agus a dhéanann bainistíocht or thu
agus iad ag tógáil an comhshaol áitiúil san áireamh.
Bhronn Giúiré na hEorpa 81 Brat Gorm (an líon ba
mhó riamh) ar thránna (77) agus ar mhuiríní (4) in
Éirinn i 1999 (Féacht Environment Bulletin Uimh. 43).
Jerome Flanagan,Water Quality Section,
tel: 01.888 2468 fax: 01.888 2014
Phosphorus in Detergents
On 14 December, 1999, Mr Noel Dempsey,T.D.,
Minister for the Environment and Local Government,
concluded a voluntar y agreement with the Irish
Detergents and Allied Products Association (IDAPA)
which provides for an effective phasing-out of the
marketing of phosphate-based domestic laundr y
detergent products in Ireland.
The Agreement provides for an incremental move to
zero-phosphate products by IDAPA members, with
reduction targets of 55% by 30 June, 2000, 90% by 31
December, 2001 and 95% by 31 December, 2002.
This represents a significant detergent industr y
response to the Government's strategy to tackle
eutrophication of Irish rivers and lakes.The reduction
of phosphorus inputs to waters is a key objective of
the Depar tment’s water pollution prevention policy.
The Agreement will lead to a substantial reduction in
the phosphorus load from sewage, by effectively
eliminating the phosphorus contribution from
domestic laundr y detergents.This will complement the
measures being taken to reduce phosphorous inputs
from agriculture and industr y and the major programme of capital investment by the Depar tment and
local authorities to upgrade sewage treatment facilities.
IDAPA represents over 90% of the domestic laundr y
detergent market in Ireland and the Minister is seeking
similar commitments from the remaining 8-10% of the
market, i.e., the own-brand sector. Initial approaches
have already been made to the relevant suppliers.
Tom Walsh,Water Quality,
tel: 01.888 2317
Bronntar na Brait ar bhonn dhianchritéar sna réimsí
seo a leanas:
u
u
u
u
cáilíocht uisce snáimh,
bainistiú comhshaoil,
sábháilteacht agus seirbhísí,
oideachas agus eolas comhshaoil.
Déanann údaráis áitiúla iarr tais ar an mBrat Gorm
chuig an Taisce. Reáchtáladh seimineár d’ionadaithe ó
na húdaráis áitiúla ar an scéim 2000 an 11 Feabhra. I
measc na gcritéar nua atá leagtha amach do 2000 tá
teacht níos fearr ar shuímh do dhaoine faoi
mhíchumais. Ní mór rampaí rochtana chuig an trá agus
saoráidí leithris do dhaoine faoi mhíchumais a bheith
ag ar a laghad trá amháin i gceantar an údaráis áitiúil.
Áireofar chomh maith i bhfeachtas Bhrat Gorm 2000
modhanna iompair nach ndéanann dochar don
chomhshaol, ar nós rothaíochta agus siúil, a chur chun
cinn sa phobal máguaird.
Leagfaidh an Taisce béim ar leith i mbliana ar mhuiríní,
muiríní intíre agus ar an gcósta araon, mar thoradh ar
méadú suime le blianta beaga anuas a bheith léirithe ag
bainisteoirí muiríní agus ag úinéirí bád. I measc na
nuálacha eile i bhFeachtas na mBrat Gorm tá Brat
Gorm Aonair d’úinéirí báid. Bronntar an pennant sin ar
úinéirí báid a aontaíonn déanamh de réir an Chóid
Iompair Comhshaoil.
Cuireann an cód gníomhaíochtaí freagracha chun cinn
lena n-áirítear:
u
ainmhithe agus plandaí sa chrios cósta agus in uiscí
intíre a chosaint, agus cúram speisialta a dhéanamh
gan cur isteach ar éin atá ag pórú,
u
gan dochar a dhéanamh do ghrinneal na farraige
agus báid á gcur ar ancaire,
u
úsáid péint nach bhfuil tocsaineach agus glantachán
agus ábhair ghlanta nach ndéanann dochar don
chomhshaol,
u
bádóirí eile a spreagadh aire a thabhairt don
chomhshaol,
u
truailliú agus sáruithe rialachán eile a thuairisciú do
na húdaráis.
Is iad FEEE (Foundation for Environmental Education in
Europe) a dhéanann Feachtas na mBrat Gorm a
chomhordú ag leibhéal na hEorpa agus is iad an Taisce,
le tacaíocht airgid ón Roinn Comhshaoil agus Rialtais
Áitiúil, a dhéanann an feachtas a chomhordú in Éirinn.
The Agreement will
lead to a substantial
reduction in the
phosphorus load
from sewage, by
effectively eliminating
the phosphorus
contribution from
domestic laundry
detergents.
18 Drinking Water Resources
Is iad an Taisce an tOibreoir Náisiúnta in Éirinn do gach
tionscnamh de chuid FEEE, lena n-áirítear GreenSchools agus Young Repor ters for the Environment.
Déanann Giúiré Náisiúnta ar a bhfuil ionadaithe ó An
Taisce, ó Roinn na Mara agus Acmhainní Nádúr tha, ón
nGníomhaireacht Cosanta Comhshaoil, ó Chumann
Tomhaltóirí na hÉireann, ó Institiúid na Mara, ón Roinn
Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán, ón
gComhairle Náisiúnta Sábháilteachta Uisce agus
Comhchomhairleoir Micribitheolaíochta measúnú ar
iarratais don Bhrat Gorm ar dtús. Is Giúiré Eorpach de
chuid FEEE a bhronnann na brait ar deireadh.
Tuilleadh Eolais:
Carla Ward, Blue Flag Manager,
An Taisce, Halla an Táilliúra,
Bach Lane, Dublin 8
teil: 01.454 1819 faics: 01.454 1802
láithreáin ghréasáin: www.antaisce.org
www.blueflag.org www.feee.org
European Blue Flag Awards
The European Jury
awarded a record
number of 81
Blue Flags to beaches
(77) and marinas (4)
in Ireland in 1999.
An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland, has
commenced arrangements for the operation of the
Blue Flag Awards Scheme in 2000.The Blue Flag is a
well recognised quality standard for beaches and
marinas in 22 countries across Europe. It is given to
local authorities that make a special effor t to keep
their beaches and marinas clean and manage them
with consideration for the local environment.The
European Jur y awarded a record number of 81 Blue
Flags to beaches (77) and marinas (4) in Ireland in
1999. (See Environment Bulletin No.43)
Flags are awarded on the basis of strict criteria in the
areas of:
u
u
u
u
bathing water quality,
environmental management,
safety and services,
environmental education and information.
Applications for the Blue Flags are submitted by local
authorities to An Taisce. A seminar for local authority
representatives on the 2000 scheme was held on
Februar y 11. New criteria to be met in 2000 include
improved access for disabled persons. It will be
imperative for at least one beach in a local authority
area to have access ramps to the beach and toilet
facilities for disabled persons.The 2000 Blue Flag
campaign will also see the promotion of
environmentally friendly methods of transpor t, such as
cycling and walking, in the surrounding community.
An Taisce will place a special focus this year on
marinas, both inland and coastal, following increased
interest in recent years from marina managers and
boat owners.
Fur ther innovations in the Blue Flag Campaign include
an Individual Blue Flag for boat owners.This pennant is
awarded to boat owners who agree to respect the
Environmental Code of Conduct.
The code promotes responsible actions such as:
u
protection of animals and plants in the coastal zone
and inland waters, with care especially given not to
disturb breeding birds,
u
u
avoiding damage to the sea bed when anchoring,
use of non-toxic paints and non-offensive cleaning
materials and detergents,
u
encouraging other sailors to take care of the
environment,
u
reporting incidences of pollution and other violations
of regulations to the authorities.
The Blue Flag Campaign is co-ordinated at the
European level by FEEE (Foundation for Environmental
Education in Europe) and is co-ordinated in Ireland by
An Taisce, with financial suppor t from the Depar tment
of the Environment and Local Government. An Taisce is
National Operator of all FEEE projects in Ireland,
including Green-Schools and Young Repor ters for the
Environment.
Blue Flag applications are first assessed by a National
Jur y consisting of representatives from An Taisce,
Depar tment of the Marine and Natural Resources,
Environmental Protection Agency, Consumer
Association of Ireland,The Marine Institute,
Depar tment of Ar ts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the
Islands, a Microbiology Consultant and the National
Water Safety Council. Flags are ultimately awarded by
the European Jur y of FEEE.
Further information :
Carla Ward, Blue Flag Manager,
An Taisce,Tailors’ Hall, Back Lane, Dublin 8
tel: 01.454 1819 fax: 01.454 1802
websites: www.antaisce.org www.blueflag.org
www.feee.org
Drinking Water Resources 19
Cyanobacteria in Lakes: Report
As par t of the Environmental Research Programme of
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the first
ever detailed sur vey of Irish lakes seeking to establish
the pattern of occurrence of the unicellular organisms
known as Cyanobacteria has been completed.The final
repor ts of the work have recently been published by
the EPA in the Environmental Research Series.
Blooms of Cyanobacteria, producing hepatotoxins and
neurotoxins have been recorded in many par ts of
Europe, Australia and America. Blooms of
Cyanobacteria have also been increasing (in frequency
and duration) in Ireland, making it more likely that
humans and animals may become exposed to these
sources of toxicity. For this reason a research project,
Investigation of Toxins Produced by Cyanobacteria, was
offered under a call for tender issued in 1995 by the
EPA. A contract for the project was awarded to the
Institute of Technology, Cork, in Januar y 1996.
monitoring of lakes over 50 hectares in surface area
under the terms of the proposed EU Water
Framework Directive. Local authorities have been
advised (Depar tment of the Environment and Local
Government, 1993) as to the possible causes and
effects of algal blooms and the action to be taken in
the event of such blooms. Par ticular attention was
drawn to the protection of drinking water sources; this
had been the subject of earlier guidelines issued by the
Depar tment to local authorities in 1992. Public
information requirements were also emphasised in the
advice and guidelines to local authorities.
Copies of the repor ts entitled Investigation of Toxins
Produced by Cyanobacteria:
·
Literature Review of the Hazards and Risks Posed by
Freshwater Cyanobacteria to Human and Animal
Health (price £5),
·
Final Report (£15), and
·
Synthesis Report (free of charge).
are all available from:
A sur vey of 55 lakes in Ireland, representing a range of
trophic conditions was carried out in the first year of
the research project.This sur vey indicated the
presence of a wide diversity of types of Cyanobacteria.
Blooms of organisms were mostly associated with
highly enriched lakes.Three lakes which had recorded
several blooms of Cyanobacteria in previous years
were sur veyed intensively during the second year of
the project.These were Caragh Lake, Co. Kerr y, Lough
Derg, Co.Tipperar y and Inniscarra Reser voir, Co. Cork.
During the intensive sur vey no major blooms were
detected. Par t of the project was aimed at
recommending rapid diagnostic methods based on
existing research. However, due to the range and
complexity of the organisms and their toxins the study
team were unable to recommend test methods.
EPA Regional Inspectorate, St. Mar tin’s House,
Waterloo Road, Dublin 4
tel: 01.667 4474 fax: 01.660 5848
email:[email protected]
The repor t found that most algal blooms investigated
in Ireland were non-toxic at the time of sampling, and
that fully dispersed populations of Cyanobacteria do
not present a serious threat of acute toxicity. While the
investigation could not exclude the possibility of
sublethal or chronic effects from ingesting water with
low toxin doses, the repor t stated that the most
serious danger to humans is to swallow water from a
surface scum. It also pointed out that the rate of entr y
of toxins to drinking water supplies is minimised by the
removal of Cyanobacteria in water treatment plants.
On 7 Januar y, 2000, Dr. Michael Woods,T.D., Minister
for the Marine and Natural Resources launched the
Report of the Task Force on Dumping of Radioactive
Material in the Maritime Area.The key conclusion of the
repor t is that the risk to human health and to marine
life from dumping in past years is extremely low and
does not constitute a health hazard.
While the repor t recommends a national monitoring
programme for Cyanobacteria and their toxins, it is
not envisaged that a national monitoring programme
will be established specifically to identify
Cyanobacteria, which occur naturally in the vast
majority of lakes throughout the world. However, it is
proposed that, in the current lake monitoring
programme, algal and cyanobacterial species
identification will be performed in cases where lakes
are enriched. In addition, estimates will continue to be
made of the abundance of algae and Cyanobacteria
populations in all lake samples analysed. Such
identifications will be required routinely in the
Ms. Loraine Fegan, EPA Regional Inspectorate,
St. Martin’s House,Waterloo Road, Dublin 4
tel: 01.660 5848 fax: 01.660 5848
Report on UK Radioactive
Dumping in the Irish Sea
The Task Force was established following the discover y
of UK official documents which indicated that
radioactive waste had been dumped from ships in
Beaufor t’s Dyke in the Nor th Irish Sea, in the Fir th of
Clyde, Liverpool Bay, Morecambe Bay and the
Holyhead Deep during the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and
1970s.
The Task Force assessed, with assistance from the
Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) and
the Depar tment of Experimental Physics at UCD, the
potential radiological consequences of the dumped
material.This assessment was based on available
documentation.
While the repor t was principally concerned with past
dumping of radioactive material in the Irish Sea, it
The rate of entry of toxins
to drinking water
supplies is minimised
by the removal of
Cyanobacteria in water
treatment plants.
20 Drinking Water Resources
noted that the discharge of radioactive effluents from
Sellafield began in the early 1950s and has continued
up to the present time. Discharges reached their peak
in the1970s and have declined substantially since.
The repor t assessed the measures which have been
taken, both in Ireland and the UK, to monitor
radioactivity levels in the Irish Sea. RPII’s ongoing
radioactivity monitoring programme was considered
adequate given the extremely low levels of
radioactivity likely to arise from past dumping.The Task
Force also emphasised that it is impor tant that the
monthly and annual monitoring programmes should be
maintained at existing levels.
The conclusions and recommendations of the Task
Force were:
The risk to human
health and to marine
life arising from this
dumping is extremely low
and does not constitute a
health hazard.
u
the risk to human health and to marine life arising
from this dumping is extremely low and does not
constitute a health hazard,
u
members of the public have no reason, arising from
the likely effects of this dumping, to be concerned
about eating fish caught in the Irish Sea or the safety
of swimming or participating in other water sports
and recreational activities in the Irish Sea along the
Irish coast,
u
the Government should continue its leading role at
international level in the protection of the marine
environment. Any attempt to renew the practice of
dumping radioactive material should be strenuously
opposed by the Government,
u
caution should be exercised in carrying out any works
that may disturb the seabed in any area where
radioactive waste has been dumped and a careful
assessment of any potential risks made,
u
it is important to continue with the on-going marine
radioactivity monitoring programme carried out by
the RPII and with the ongoing research into
radiological impacts by the RPII and the University
sector.
The Task Force was chaired by barrister Nuala Butler
and included exper t scientists from the Radiological
Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), UCD and key
officials from the Depar tment of Marine and Natural
Resources, the Depar tment of Public Enterprise and
the Marine Institute.
Denis Maher, Department of Marine
and Natural Resources
tel: 01.662 1606 mobile: 087.256 5927
fax: 01.676 6161
website: www.irlgov.ie/marine/pressRelease
Inland Waterways: Regional
Seminars
Following the launch by the Heritage Council of the
policy document on inland waterways, the Council’s
Waterways Committee hosted regional seminars on
Ireland’s Inland Waterways in September and
December 1999, in Carlow and Longford.
Further seminars will be held in March and May 2000
as follows:
u
Shannon Navigation
8 March 2000
Ballykeeron Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath
at 1.45 – 5pm
u
Shannon-Erne and Ulster Canal
3 May 2000
Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan.
at 1.45 – 5.15pm
There is no fee for attendance at these seminars but it
is necessar y to reser ve places.
Noreen Walshe or Beatrice Kelly
The Heritage Council, Rothe House, Kilkenny
tel: 056.70777 fax: 056.70788
Air Quality and Energy Matters
New Specifications for Petrol
and Diesel
Mr. Dan Wallace,T.D., Minister of State at the Depar tment of the Environment and Local Government, has
made regulations banning the marketing of leaded
petrol from 1 Januar y, 2000. The Air Pollution Act, 1987
(Environmental Specifications for Petrol and Diesel Fuels)
Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 407 of 1999) also set
stringent standards for a number of other pollutants in
petrol including sulphur, benzene, aromatics, olefins and
oxygenates and placed limits on the sulphur and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content of diesel.
The regulations give effect to most of the provisions of
EU Directive 98/70/EC on the quality of petrol and
diesel fuels.This is an impor tant element of the EU
Auto Oil Programme which is designed to improve the
environmental quality of vehicle transpor t through
reducing levels of carbon monoxide, benzene, nitrogen
dioxide and tropospheric ozone emissions. Stricter
Community emission standards are being applied to
new vehicles and these are complemented and
facilitated by improvements in fuel quality such as
those introduced in the Regulations.
The Auto Oil Programme also sets fur ther improved
standards for fuel for 2005, and these are also specified
in the regulations. As a result, in 2005 there will be
fur ther reductions in the maximum aromatic and
sulphur content of petrol, and sulphur content only in
the case of diesel.
The standards set in the Januar y 2000 regulations
apply limits of 2% in the case of benzene (down from
5% previously) and 46% for aromatics (down from the
industr y norm of 48% previously). Despite
considerable investment of £70m to meet the new
Auto Oil standards, Whitegate refiner y in Cork is not
expected to attain the full standards set out in the
Directive for benzene and aromatics levels (1% and
42% respectively) in petrol until July 2000. However, in
the light of the impor tance of improving fuel quality to
ensure an improvement in vehicle emissions, and
notwithstanding the difficulties at Whitegate, the
Government has decided that the full Auto Oil
standard must be complied with by 31 March, 2000.
Accordingly, a fur ther set of Regulations will be made
by the Minister which will set standards fully in line
with those set out in the Directive by that date.
Options for Whitegate at that stage to ensure compliance of its output until the investment programme is
finalised will be a matter for the refiner y to define.
The final changeover from leaded petrol on 1 Januar y,
2000 has been smooth, as lead replacement petrol had
been available at vir tually all ser vice stations for some
months beforehand.
Noel Sheahan,Air/Climate Section
tel: 01.888 2472 fax: 01.8882014
3
Regulations to Control
Emissions from Non-Road Mobile
Machinery
Regulations which ban the registration or placing on
the market of non-road mobile machiner y unless it
conforms to specified emission standards have been
made by Mr. Dan Wallace,T.D., Minister of State at the
Depar tment of the Environment and Local
Government. The Regulations are entitled the
European Communities (Control of Emissions of Gaseous
and Particulate Pollutants from Non-Road Mobile
Machiner y) Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 396 of 1999)
and transpose Directive 97/68/EC into Irish law.
The regulations relate mainly to machiner y such as
bulldozers, excavators, forklift trucks and forestr y and
agriculture equipment. From 15 December, 1999, no
new engines, whether or not they are already installed
in machines, can be placed on the market unless they
have received a type approval cer tificate from an
approval authority.
The National Standards Authority of Ireland has been
designated as the type-approval authority for Ireland.
tel: 01.888 2472 fax: 01.888 2014
First Results from Mobile Air
Quality Monitoring Units Now In
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been
assigned the role of implementing the EU Directive on
Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management and
a series of daughter directives setting specific standards
for various pollutants.The first of these daughter
directives to be finalised sets standards for sulphur
dioxide (SO 2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), small
par ticulate matter (PM 10) and lead (see Environment
Bulletin No. 43). Fur ther directives for carbon
monoxide (CO), benzene, ozone, polyaromatic
hydrocarbons (PAH), and various heavy metals are in
the course of completion.
As a first step, the EPA is under taking a preliminar y
assessment of air quality nationally and the levels of
the pollutants covered by the Directives.The Agency
has purchased two mobile air quality monitoring units
and it is planning to acquire a third one in the near
future. Details of the mobile units are contained in
Environment Bulletin No. 43.
The first readings were taken on the Trinity College
Campus at the corner of Pearse Street and Westland
Row between 15 July and 15 December, 1999, and
these are currently being analysed by the EPA.
In 2005 there will be
further reductions in the
maximum aromatic and
sulphur content of petrol,
and sulphur content only
in the case of diesel.
22 Air Quality and Energy Matters
The data from these measurements, together with
those from existing monitoring networks, will be used
to determine the nature of the monitoring system
which must be put in place by mid 2001 to meet the
requirements of the directives.The data will also assist
in developing the strategies necessar y to ensure
compliance with the mandator y limits.
A preliminar y examination of the first data collected at
the Trinity College site suggests that the future limit
values for NOx and PM 10 will be difficult to meet.This
is consistent with the expectation, in Ireland and
elsewhere in Europe, that these parameters will be
challenging in heavily trafficked urban areas. Measures
such as the mandator y fitting of catalytic conver tors
on all new cars, the introduction of more stringent fuel
standards since 1 Januar y 2000 (see article on page
19), the compulsor y car testing of all older vehicles
and improved public transpor t will assist towards
achieving the targets. In Dublin, the completion of
infrastructural projects such as the Por t Access Tunnel
and LUAS, and, in Cork, the opening of the Jack Lynch
Tunnel should also help.
The results from the mobile unit suggest no problem
with regard to the future limits for sulphur dioxide,
benzene and carbon monoxide.
The data will also
assist in developing the
strategies necessary to
ensure compliance with
the mandatory limits.
At present, the units are deployed in the Cork and
Limerick City areas.The third unit will initially be
located in the Dublin area, probably in Rathmines.
It is intended that the units will also be used in Galway
and Waterford later in the year and subsequently in
fur ther urban centres. In the longer term, it is
proposed to deploy the units on a rolling basis in those
areas not deemed to require inclusion in the
permanent network of monitoring stations so that the
position in such areas can be kept under review and
provide assurance to the public.
Dr. Ciaran O’Donnell,
Environmental Protection Agency,
Pottery Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
tel: 01.285 2122 e-mail: [email protected]
Protocol to Abate Acidification,
Eutrophication and Ground Level
Ozone
Ireland has signed the UN ECE Protocol to the 1979
Convention on Long Range Transboundar y Air
Pollution to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and
Ground Level Ozone.The signing ceremony took place
in Gothenburg, Sweden on 1 December, 1999.
The objective of the Protocol is to control and reduce
emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO 2), nitrogen oxides
(NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
ammonia (NH 3).These pollutants cause adverse
effects on human health, natural ecosystems, materials
and crops by acidification, eutrophication and ground
level ozone, and all are transpor ted for long distances.
Reductions require concer ted transboundar y action.
The Protocol marks a new step in the setting of more
demanding targets for reductions in SO 2, NOx and
VOC emissions, and sets limits for NH 3 emissions for
the first time. It is expected that once all the targets in
the Protocol are met, the area in Europe with
excessive levels of acidification will shrink by 84%
below the 1990 levels by 2010 and that the area with
excessive levels of eutrophication will fall by 35% in
the same period.The number of days with excessive
ozone levels is expected to be halved.
The Protocol sets reduction targets for all four
pollutants. It also sets limit values for specific emission
sources for SO 2 and NOx (e.g. combustion plant,
electricity production, cars and lorries) and requires
best available techniques to be used to keep emissions
down.VOC emissions from products such as paints or
aerosols will also have to be cut, and the agriculture
sector will have to control NH 3 emissions from
sources such as slurr y spreading.
By 2010, Europe’s SO 2 emissions should be cut by 63%,
NOx emissions by 41%,VOC emissions by 40% and
NH 3 emissions by 17% compared to their 1990 levels.
To achieve the Protocol objective, Ireland will, by 2010,
have to meet national emission ceilings of 42,000
tonnes (42kT) for SO 2 (76% below 1990 levels), 65kT
for NOx (43% reduction), 55kT for VOCs (72%
reduction) and 116kT for NH 3. Meeting these ceilings
will be challenging, par ticularly in light of Ireland’s
continued economic growth. However, the benefits of
the reductions will include improved human health and
reduced damage to forests, crops and sensitive
ecosystems and will outweigh, in cost terms, the costs
of making the reductions.
The European Commission has also developed
proposals for a directive for ceilings to cover the same
pollutants (see Environment Bulletin No. 43).
tel: 01.888 2472 fax: 01.888 2014
Air Quality and Energy Matters 23
National Greenhouse Gas
Abatement Strategy
Members of Strategy Group:
Ireland’s target under the Kyoto Protocol is to limit the
net increase in emissions of greenhouse gases to 13%
above 1990 levels in the period 2008-2012. Following
publication of its consultancy study Limitation and
Reduction of CO 2 and other Greenhouse Gas Emissions in
Ireland, the Depar tment of the Environment and Local
Government has prepared a draft National
Greenhouse Gas Abatement Strategy.
Brian Ó Gallachóir,
Dept. Civil & Environmental Engineering, UCC:
Facilitator
Mr. Noel Dempsey,T.D., Minister for the Environment
and Local Government, subsequently invited Comhar
to consider and make recommendations on the draft
Strategy.The cross sectoral representative structure of
Comhar is ideally suited to an examination of the
policy proposals outlined in the draft, and a good basis
for building consensus on the action that must be
taken across the economy and society to meet our
Kyoto target. Following its assessment, Comhar
provided recommendations on the overall approach
and balance of the draft Strategy.
The Depar tment of the Environment and Local
Government is now proceeding as a priority, with
appropriate inter-Depar tmental input through the
Green Network of Government Depar tments, to
finalise the Strategy for Government approval, having
regard to the views of Comhar and other
developments including the recent Green Paper on
Sustainable Energy published by the Depar tment of
Public Enterprise.
Damien Markey,Air/Climate Section
tel: 01.888 2445 fax: 01.888 2014
Renewable Energy Strategy
Group
In November, 1999, Mr Joe Jacob,T.D., Minister of State
at the Depar tment of Public Enterprise, established a
Renewable Energy Strategy Group as anticipated in his
Green Paper on Sustainable Energy.
The Group will examine all aspects of, and obstacles
to, the fur ther deployment of renewable energy
technologies.The Group, chaired by Professor John
FitzGerald, will concentrate on wind energy initially
and will repor t to the Minister of State within a period
of six months.
At the Strategy Group's first meeting held on
11 November, 1999, Minister Jacob stressed his
personal and political commitment towards a
significant increase in renewable energy coming on
stream in future years in line with the objectives of
the Green Paper.
Professor John Fitzgerald, ERSI:
Chairman
Ms.Adele Sleator,
National Grid, ESB
Mr. Simon Grimes,
ESB, AER Competition Manager
Dr. Eamon McKeogh,
Director, Renewable Energy Information Office
Mr. Hendrik van der Kamp,
Built Environment Facility, DIT, Bolton Street
Mr. Niall Sweeney,
Offaly County Manager
Ms. Inge Buckley,
Scan Energy and Environmental Services Ltd.
Mr Lawrence Foye,
Department of Enterprise,Trade and Investment,
Belfast
Mr. Donal Enright,
Department of the Environment
& Local Government
Dr.Tom McManus,
Chief Technical Advisor,
Department of Public Enterprise
Mr.Tom Kennington,
Department of Public Enterprise
Michael Purcell, Department of Public Enterprise
tel: 01.6041 682
The Department of the
Environment and Local
Government has
prepared a draft National
Greenhouse Gas
Abatement Strategy.
24 Air Quality and Energy Matters
Pictured at
Energy Link 1999 are:
Rosie Martin (Hartstown Community
College, Dublin 15),
Joe Coogan
(Yamanouchi) and
Sinead Begley
(Education Officer,
Irish Energy Centre)
with students from
Hartstown Community
College, Dublin 15
Energy Link 1999
Twelve companies and twelve schools took par t in
Energy Link 1999, an initiative of the Irish Energy
Centre which aims at fostering links between the
industrial and education sectors by twinning industries
and secondar y schools at a local level.The core
element of the par tnership is an educational exhibit,
developed by the industr y for display in the par tner
school.
With the suppor t of the Irish Energy Centre and
advice from teachers in their par tner school, each
company developed a high quality, engaging, interactive
exhibit, demonstrating aspects of its activities and
providing information on its energy use and interaction
with the local environment.The school, acting in
par tnership with each company, assisted in the
development of the interactive display and hosted the
exhibition throughout National Science Week 1999.
The Energy Link Project began in 1998 and proved to
be ver y successful.
The schools and companies involved in Energy Link
1999 are listed below.
School
Company
Har tstown Community College,
Dublin 15
Yamanouchi
St. Finnian’s School,
Swords
Aer Rianta
Bailieboro Community School
Cavan
Wellman
St. Angela’s Ursuline Convent,
Waterford
Bausch & Lomb
Glanmire Community School,
Cork
Jannsen
Pharmaceutical
St. Brogan’s, Bandon
Schering-Plough
St. Kieran’s College,
Kilkenny
Glanbia
Davis College,
Mallow
Dairygold
Trim Vocational School,
Meath
NEC
Carrigaline Community School,
Cork
Pfizer
Pharmaceuticals
Ard Scoil Ris, Limerick
Atlas Aluminium
St. Coleman’s Community
College, Midleton
Henkel Ireland
Tom Halpin, Marketing Executive,
Irish Energy Centre, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
tel: 01.808 2092 fax: 01.837 2848
Air Quality and Energy Matters 25
The Energy Show 2000
Exhibition and Workshops
The call will be of most relevance to industries,
enterprises and researchers with an interest in
pursuing sustainable energy solutions.
The Energy Show, a show case for energy efficiency
products and ser vices, is this year widening its scope
also to embrace renewable technologies, several of
which are now commercially viable. The Energy Show
2000 – Making Sustainable Energy Pay will take place in
the RDS Industries Hall on 17-18 May, 2000.The show
will bring together product and ser vice suppliers with
those who have most to gain from investing in energy
efficiency and renewable energy.
Topics covered under the call will include:
This is a time of dramatic change for energy users and
producers in Ireland.The opening of the electricity
market offers new choices, new oppor tunities and
new threats, while the Government’s Green Paper on
Sustainable Energy signals national energy strategies
towards meeting our Kyoto Protocol commitments.
Energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy are
essential par tners in this objective; efficiency reduces
our demand for energy, while renewables increase the
sustainability of our energy supply.
Over the duration of the exhibition there will be a
number of workshops on different aspects of
renewable energy and energy efficiency.These will
introduce the delegates to the subject technologies
and their applications.
Current subject areas planned are:
u
u
u
u
u
u
u
u
Monitoring & Targeting
Combined Heat & Power
u
efficient energy services (heating, cooling, ventilation,
lighting) and domestic appliances , and the integration
of renewables into buildings,
u
the promotion of renewable energy sources (wind,
biomass/waste, solar etc .), including their efficient
integration into energy systems or with conventional
fuels,
u
fuels cells (mobile and stationar y applications),
energy efficiency in urban transport, and carbon
dioxide capture and use.
All proposals must demonstrate technical innovation
and excellence. In addition, projects must have a
European dimension and involve a par tner from
another EU Member State.The maximum levels of
suppor t available will be up to 35% of eligible costs for
demonstration projects, up to 50% for research, and
up to 100% for suppor ting activities.Total funding of
€90million will be available for the EU as a whole.
Applicants are advised to become acquainted with the
full details of qualifying criteria before proceeding with
an application.They should also ensure that they have
the latest information available, as there has been
some shift of emphasis from the 1999 Energie Call and
Application Pack. Details of new priorities for 2000 can
be obtained from the Irish Energy Centre or the
Cordis web-site.
Refrigeration
Wind Energy
tel: 01.836 9080 fax: 01.837 2848
Cordis website: www.cordis.lu
Renewable Energy in Buildings
Renewable Energy in Ireland
Boilers
Energy Management in Industry and Commerce
The Energy Show 2000 will be of interest to anyone
with responsibility for, or an interest in, energy and
energy related matters, including energy suppliers,
energy managers, building design, development and
management and large heat users.
tel: 01.836 9080 fax: 01.837 2848
EU Support for Energy Projects –
New Call for Proposals
The European Commission will shor tly launch a new
call for proposals under the Energy par t of the Fifth
Framework Programme for Research and
Technological Development (RTD) (previously JOULETHERMIE).The closing date for applications is
scheduled for May 2000.
Wind Energy Planning for 2000
Proceedings of the wind energy seminar for planners,
staged by the Renewable Energy Information Office of
the Irish Energy Centre in November, will be available
shor tly (cost £20) from the Centre’s office.
The programme included details on the latest wind
energy planning strategies and information on planning
and renewable energy policy. Papers on landscape
assessment and visual issues proved to be par ticularly
valuable.
Ewan Chalmers, Irish Energy Centre, Renewable
Energy Information Office,
Shinagh House, Bandon, Co. Cork
tel: 023.42193 fax: 023.41304
web: www.irish-energy.ie/reio.htm
The call will be of most
relevance to industries,
enterprises and
researchers with an
interest in pursuing
sustainable energy
solutions.
4
Planning and Forestry Matters
National Spatial Strategy
As par t of Ireland’s National Development Plan
2000–2006 (NDP), the Government has mandated
the Depar tment of the Environment and Local
Government to prepare a National Spatial Strategy
(NSS) within two years.The Strategy will contribute
towards the achievement of balanced regional
development, which is one of the NDP’s fundamental
objectives. It will also incorporate the NDP’s principles
of maintaining economic competitiveness and
promoting sustainable development.
Spatial Planning
Spatial planning addresses the inter-relationships
between the location of population settlements
(such as cities, towns and their rural hinterlands),
the location of economic activity and development
(including industrial and commercial activities),
and the infrastructural networks (such as transpor t,
communications and ser vices) required to connect
them and suppor t their proper functioning.
Core Issues for Strategy
This will include
identification of, and
proposals for
the promotion of, new
regional gateways
to support a more even
spread of development
throughout the country.
As agreed by Government in the NDP, the Strategy
will identify broad spatial development patterns for
areas and set down indicative policies in relation
to the location of industrial development, residential
development, rural development and tourism
and heritage.
The Strategy will also develop and present a dynamic
concept of the Irish urban system with its link to rural
areas, which recognises and utilises their economic
and social interdependence. In line with the NDP, this
will include identification of, and proposals for the
promotion of, new regional gateways to suppor t
a more even spread of development throughout the
countr y.These regional gateways are centres, which
by vir tue of their population size, location, range of
available skills, industr y and ser vices, and high quality
infrastructure, are strategically placed to drive
economic growth and social development within their
urban and rural regional hinterland.
Ultimately, the purpose of the Strategy is to provide
a basis for long term co-ordination and co-operation
in policy formulation and decision-making on major
investment in all forms of infrastructure.
European Perspective on Spatial Planning
An impor tant influence driving spatial planning at
European level is the European Spatial Development
Perspective (ESDP), which was agreed at the Informal
Meeting of EU Ministers responsible for spatial
planning in Potsdam, Germany, in May 1999.The ESDP
seeks to integrate the three fundamental goals of
economic and social cohesion, sustainable
development and European competitiveness into the
land-use of the European territor y. It suggests three
broad policy orientations for spatial development, viz.
polycentric spatial development and a new urban-rural
relationship, parity of access to infrastructure and
knowledge, and the wise management of the natural
and cultural heritage.
Departmental Response
On foot of the decision to prepare a National Spatial
Strategy, the Depar tment of the Environment and
Local Government has established a Spatial Planning
Unit which will co-ordinate its preparation.The unit
will ser vice the various consultative structures, which
are now being established.These will involve
par ticipation by all relevant Government Depar tments
and Agencies, Regional Assemblies, local government,
and the social par tners including business, agricultural,
labour and community interests. In order to set the
national strategy in its international context,
consultations are also envisaged with Nor thern
Ireland, the UK, and other EU Member States.
Public Consultation
The Depar tment will publish a scoping paper in the
near future, setting out the key issues to be addressed
by the Strategy to stimulate wide ranging discussion on
its development. As a first step, a brief consultation
paper for the general public and interested par ties is
available on our website:
www.environ.ie/devindex.html
or directly from the Depar tment.
Matthew Collins, Spatial Planning Unit
tel: 01.888 2715
Planning and Forestry Matters 27
Guidelines for Planning
Authorities on
Residential Density
Mr Noel Dempsey,T.D., Minister for the Environment
and Local Government, announced the publication of
definitive Planning Guidelines on Residential Density on
28 September 1999.The new guidelines are intended
to assist planning authorities, An Bord Pleanala,
developers and the general public by providing
guidance on the benefits of higher residential density in
appropriate locations and on the safeguards required
in promoting greater residential density generally.
The Guidelines are one element of the Government’s
continuing response to the issue of house prices. In
May 1998, the Depar tment issued a circular to local
authorities outlining ways in which they could promote
increased residential densities in appropriate locations
and with suitable safeguards.
Draft guidelines were issued earlier in 1999 for public
consultation. A wide range of interested bodies,
including local and other statutor y authorities and
non-governmental organisations, availed of the
oppor tunity to comment.The overall thrust of the
guidelines received general suppor t. All comments
were considered in full and many of the issues raised
were taken on board in preparing the final guidelines.
The Planning Guidelines on Residential Density will
encourage more sustainable urban development
through the avoidance of excessive suburbanisation
and the promotion of higher residential densities in
appropriate locations, especially in conjunction with
improved public transpor t.
Since it is through the Development Plan and the
exercise of their development control functions that
planning authorities can take effective action to
achieve higher levels of residential density, the Minister
has asked local authorities to review and var y their
Development Plans to give full effect to the
recommendations and policies contained in the
Guidelines. In the meantime, planning authorities have
been asked to give immediate effect, insofar as is
possible, to the recommendations of the Guidelines in
their day-to-day planning operations.
Betty Moriarty/Maria O’Sullivan, Planning Section
tel: 01.888 2821 fax: 01.888 2692
or maria_o’[email protected]
Protection of the Architectural
Heritage
The Depar tments of the Environment and Local
Government and Ar ts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the
Islands have put in place a comprehensive package of
measures to increase the protection of our
architectural heritage (see Environment Bulletin No. 41
& 43). New legislation: the Local Government (Planning
and Development) Act, 1999, and the Architectural
Heritage (National Inventor y) and Historic Monuments
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1999 has been enacted, a
scheme of grants for the conser vation of protected
structures, wor th £4 million a year, is in place, and
Conser vation Officers are being appointed to assist
planning authorities in carr ying out their functions. In
addition, draft guidelines will be circulated to planning
authorities shor tly.
The 1999 Planning Act, which came into force on
1 Januar y this year, and accompanying Regulations,
substantially change and expand the way in which the
planning system protects buildings of special interest.
New responsibilities and powers of planning
authorities under the Act are as follows:
u
Protection of structures of special architectural,
historical, archaeological, artistic , cultural, scientific,
social or technical interest is now a mandatory
function of planning authorities.
u
Protected structures will include listed buildings, and
development plans must contain objectives for, and a
record of, protected structures.
u
Architectural conservation areas can be created,
where planning authorities consider this necessar y.
u
The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the
Islands may issue guidelines to planning author ities
on the protection of structures, and make
recommendations on structures that should be
protected. Dúchas are currently preparing draft
guidelines.
u
There are new procedures for the protection of
structures, including procedures for notification,
consultation and assessment of structures.
u
In general, exempted development will not apply to
protected structures, unless planning authorities,
where requested, make a declaration that works to a
specific protected structure are exempted
development.
u
Each owner and occupier of a protected structure has
a duty of care for that structure.
u
Planning authorities have increased powers for the
conservation of protected structures (including
compulsory purchase).
The main features of the Architectural Heritage
(National Inventory) and Historic Monuments
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1999 are as follows:
u
Architectural heritage includes all structures and
buildings, with their settings and attendant grounds,
fixtures and fittings, and groups of such structures
and buildings and sites, of architectural, historical,
archaeological, artistic , cultural, scientific, social or
technical interest.
The Planning Guidelines
on Residential Density
will encourage more
sustainable urban
development through the
avoidance of excessive
suburbanisation.
28 Planning and Forestry Matters
u
The establishment and maintenance of a National
Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
u
Use of the Inventory to recommend to planning
authorities the inclusion of specific properties in their
records of protected structures.
u
The appointment of authorised officers, with powers
including the right of access to premises and the right
to require any occupier of the premises to assist the
officer.
The combined legislative package provides an
integrated system for the protection of heritage
buildings and a wide range of powers and obligations
for planning authorities. It will lead to more proactive
policies on the protection of architectural heritage,
including encouraging the use and re-use of existing
buildings.
Ross Hattaway, Planning Section
tel: 01.888 2321 fax: 01.888 2692
Brendan Pocock, Dúchas– the Heritage Service,
51 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
tel: 01.647 3000 lo-call: 1890.474847
fax: 01.661 6764
website: www.heritageireland.ie
Seachtain Náisiúnta na gCrann
2000
Reáchtálfar Seachtain Náisiúnta na gCrann 2000 ón 512 Már ta.Tionólfar an seoladh i gcomhar le Comhairle
Chontae Lú in aice Dhun Dealgan.
Tionólfaidh Comhairle Chontae Bhaile Átha Cliath
Theas agus Conser vation Volunteers Ireland cur crann
mar dhúnadh ar an tseachtain. I mbliana, ullmhóidh
Comhairle Crann na hÉireann liosta de
ghníomhaíochtaí a d’fhéadfadh a mballeagraíochtaí
tabhair t fúthu d’fhonn réimse níos leithne imeachtaí a
spreagadh.Táthar ag súil ceangal a dhéanamh le
tionscnaimh de chuid Tree Register of Ireland (TROI)
agus Woodlands of Ireland d’fonn rannpháir tíocht ar
fud na tíre a chinntiú.
Tá Seachtain Náisiúnta na gCrann urraithe ag Pitney
Bowes agus ag Coillte.
Tuilleadh Eolais:
Patricia Flanagan, Comhairle Crann na hÉireann,
An tOspidéal Ríoga, Cill Mhaighnean,
Baile Átha Cliath 8
teil: 01.679 0699 faics: 01.679 9457
National Tree Week 2000
The combined legislative
package provides
an integrated system
for the protection of
heritage buildings and
a wide range of powers
and obligations for
planning authorities.
Planning Update
The second issue of Planning Update, a newsletter on
renewable energy resources and applications for local
authority planners, was published by the Renewable
Energy Information Office of the Irish Energy Centre
in December.
The newsletter focuses on the heat energy resource
available from renewables in Ireland.
The potential of various renewable heat energy
resources is quantified on county-by-county basis,
including:
National Tree Week 2000 will be held from 5-12th
March.The launch will take place in association with
Louth County Council at a site outside Dundalk.
The closing event will be a plantathon organised by
South Dublin County Council and Conser vation
Volunteers Ireland.This year, the Tree Council will
prepare a list of possible activities for its member
organisations to encourage a wider variety of events
than usual. It is also hoped to link in with both the Tree
Register of Ireland (TROI) and Woodlands of Ireland
projects to ensure countr ywide par ticipation.
National Tree Week is sponsored by Pitney Bowes
and Coillte.
u
solar heating of domestic hot water
and swimming pools,
u
u
passive solar design,
space and water heating with
ground-source heat pumps,
Patricia Flanagan,The Tree Council of Ireland,
The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin 8
tel: 01.679 0699 fax:01.679 9457
u
wood biomass.
Issue one of Planning Update outlined the renewable
energy resources available for electricity generation.
Ewan Chalmers, Irish Energy Centre,
Renewable Energy Information Office,
Shinagh House, Bandon, Co. Cork
tel: 023.42193
fax: 023.41304
Planning and Forestry Matters 29
Woodlands of Ireland –
The People’s Millennium
Forest Project
AIB,The National Millennium Committee, the Forest
Ser vice and Coillte, in association with the Woodlands
of Ireland Group, Dúchas and the Heritage Council,
are sponsoring the largest ever project in Ireland
directed at the expansion and enhancement of our
native woodlands.
Specific objectives for this project will be as follows:
u
Identification and enhancement of a selection of
unique native woodlands in the four provinces of
Ireland, including two in Northern Ireland,
u
Planting a native tree for each household in the
country, to create new native woodlands,
u
Participation by the public , local communities and
schools in the sustainable management of our native
woodlands through education, training, promotion and
consultation,
u
Encouraging the cultivation of locally-der ived native
trees and shrubs, where appropriate for future
broadleaf timber production in an environmentally
friendly manner,
u
The creation of a nature woodland registration
database in order to gather information and
continuously monitor the status of the native
woodland estate.
During 2000/2001, management activities, including
conser vation management, and the planting of 1.2
million native trees under the Household Tree Scheme
will be carried out at 16 sites nationwide. A tree
cer tificate will be issued to all households in the spring
of 2000.
Dr Declan Little, Coillte,
The Irish Forestry Board, Dublin Road,
Newtownmountkennedy, Co.Wicklow
tel: 01.201 1142 fax: 01.201 1199
Dawn Oak 2000
At 00:00 on 1 Januar y 2000, the local community of
Balla, Co. Mayo planted 2000 trees to mark the dawn
of a new Millennium.This record-breaking attempt was
registered with the Guinness Book of Records.
The severe storms of Christmas 1998 caused
extensive damage to the old Irish oak woods at Balla.
Several hundred of the trees in Balla’s ancient oak
forest were completely destroyed. In this Millennium
project, the people of Balla have under taken to replant
the wood.
The project was granted £59,700 in exchequer funding
from the Millennium Committee.
Kathryn Byrne or Sarah Gahan,
Limelight Communications
tel: 01.668 0600 or 087.2336033 or
Stephen Clancy, Balla Town Park
tel: 094.65823
Participation by the
public, local communities
and schools in the
sustainable management
of our native woodlands
through education,
training, promotion and
consultation.
5
Waste and Litter
Update on Waste Management
Planning
Ver y good progress is being made in the current
Waste Management Planning process and it is
expected that this process will be completed within a
matter of months.The following is a summar y of the
position regarding the adoption of Waste Management
Plans (WMP) at 9 Februar y, 2000:
Dublin Region
The four authorities concerned (Dublin Corporation
and Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown
County Councils) have formally adopted a regional
WMP.
South West Region (Clare, Kerry and Limerick
City and County)
The statutor y public consultation process regarding a
draft WMP for the Region commenced on 7 Januar y
2000. It is likely that the regional WMP will be formally
adopted in April 2000.
Cork Region (City and County)
Cork County Council adopted a WMP in May 1999.
The statutor y public consultation process regarding
the Corporation’s proposed WMP has been
completed and the WMP is scheduled for adoption in
Februar y 2000.
Kildare
This WMP was formally adopted in December 1999.
North East Region (Cavan, Louth, Monaghan
and Meath)
The statutor y public consultation process (two
months) regarding a draft WMP for the Region
commenced in the week beginning 3 Januar y 2000. It is
likely that the regional WMP will be formally adopted
in March 2000.
Connaught Region (Galway City and County,
Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon)
Dublin Corporation and
Fingal, South Dublin and
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown
County Councils
have formally adopted a
regional WMP.
The statutor y public consultation process regarding a
draft WMP for the Region commenced on 20
December 1999 and will conclude at end-March 2000.
It is likely that the regional WMP will be formally
adopted in April 2000.
Midlands Region (Longford,Westmeath,
Offaly, Laois,Tipperary (NR))
A regional strategy study has been completed. Public
consultation regarding a draft regional WMP was
delayed pending consideration of possible involvement
of Kildare County Council. A draft WMP will be
published in Februar y 2000 and is likely to be formally
adopted by May 2000.
South East Region (Carlow, Kilkenny,
Tipperary (SR),Waterford City and County,
Wexford)
Four of the authorities,Tipperar y (SR), Wexford, and
Waterford City and County, have formally adopted
WMP’s. Statutor y public consultation regarding draft
plans for Counties Carlow and Kilkenny has concluded,
and formal adoption of these plans is expected by
end-March 2000.
Wicklow
The statutor y public consultation process has
concluded and the WMP is scheduled for adoption in
Februar y 2000.
Donegal
A draft WMP is scheduled to be published for
consultation in Februar y 2000, and is likely to be
formally adopted in May 2000.
National Hazardous Waste Management Plan
(NHWMP)
The adoption of this plan is a function of the
Environmental Protection Agency
A statutory consultation process regarding the
proposed NHWMP has concluded and the EPA will
formally adopt the national plan in the first quar ter of
2000.
John Hogan,Waste Management Section,
tel: 01.888 2610 01.888 2014
Waste and Litter 31
Plastics Recycling Conference
There is no stipulated number of litter wardens per
local authority. A schedule showing a breakdown of the
1999 figures for each local authority is attached at
Appendix 5.
A Plastics Recycling Conference has been organised by
the Plastics Industries Association (PIA) for
Wednesday 21 June in Dublin Castle Conference
Centre.
The following improvements are noteworthy in the
2 1⁄ 2 year period to end June 1999:
The Conference is the fourth in a series which has
been organised by the PIA since 1994.Topics to be
addressed include:
u
u
u
u
the number of litter wardens employed more than
trebled to 298,
u
the number of on-the-spot fines levied increased
more than eight-fold to over 8200 for the January to
June 1999 period.This is almost double the July to
December 1998 figure,
u
prosecutions also increased substantially over this
period.
Recycling technologies,
Recycling case studies, and
Legislative developments.
This year’s event will specifically look at developments
relating to recycling of waste derived from electrical
and electronic waste.The organisers are interested in
receiving proposals for papers and details can be
submitted to the address below.
Insofar as the litter problem in Dublin City is
concerned, Dublin Corporation:
u
spent over £11 million in 1999 – compared to
£10 million in 1998 – on street cleansing and litter
warden operations,
u
increased the number of litter wardens employed in
the last 2 years from 2 to 20 and now provide a 24
hour 7 day service,
u
u
currently operates 11 mobile anti-litter units, and
Reg McCabe, Director, Plastics Industries Association,
Confederation House, 84/86 Lower Baggot Street,
Dublin 2
tel: 01.605 1579 fax: 01.638 1579
website: www.ibec.ie
The above statistics indicate that local authorities are
taking a more pro-active approach to combating litter,
using the extensive management and enforcement
powers available to them under the 1997 Act and that
local authority enforcement action during the first half
of 1999 significantly exceeded the record levels of the
previous 6 month period.
Litter Enforcement Statistics
Local authority statistical returns provide the
Depar tment with performance indicators of how
effectively local authorities are tackling litter. Local
authority enforcement of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997
for the first half of 1999 – the most recent national
figures available – showed significant improvement
over earlier periods. Comparison of provisional
national statistics for the first 6 months of 1997 (the
period prior to the coming into operation on 1 July
1997 of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997) with the first
half of 1999 confirms this, as the char t below shows:
Wardens
substantially exceeded 1998 record enforcement
levels – to end December 1999, the Corporation
issued over 13,000 on-the-spot fines and took almost
600 prosecutions.
Colm Keenan,Anti-Litter Unit
tel: 01.888 2494 fax: 01.888 2691
Prosecutions Convictions
Full-time Part-time
On-the-spot fines
Issued
Paid
Jan–June 1997
29
56
146
100
981
580
July–Dec 1997
45
93
184
120
2277
1099
Jan–June 1998
54
137
507
246
3175
1286
July–Dec 1998
64
145
396
151
4388
2177
Jan–June 1999
60
238
859
354
8277
4869
In the 21⁄2 year period to
end June 1999, the
number of litter wardens
employed more than
trebled to 298.
32 Waste and Litter
Glantachán Náisiúnta an
Earraigh 2000
Is feachtas nuálach é Glantachán Náisiúnta an Earraigh
a thugann daoine ó gach réimse den tsochaí le chéile
chun aird a tharraingt ar fhadhb an bhruscair agus chun
dul i ngleic leis an bhfadhb sin.Tá an feachtas á
reáchtáil ag an Taisce agus tá tacaíocht faighte acu ón
Roinn Comhshaoil agus Rialtais Áitiúil, ó Coca-Cola
agus ón gcuideachta Wrigley Teo. Is í seo an dara bliain
de Ghlantachán Náisiúnta an Earraigh a bheidh ar siúl
le linn mhí an Aibreáin 2000. Bailíodh 7,300 tonna
bruscair anuraidh ag 1732 imeacht ar fud na tíre, agus
táthar ag súil leis an éacht sin a shárú i bhfeachtas
2000.
Tá trí sprioc ag Glantachán Náisiúnta an Earraigh:
This is the second year of
National Spring Clean
(NSC) which will run
throughout the month of
April 2000.
u
aird a tharraingt ar shaincheisteanna bruscair agus
dramhaíola,
u
u
glantachán le linn mhí an Aibreáin a spreagadh,
rannpháirtíocht phraiticiúil leanúnach sa chomhshaol
ar feadh na bliana ar fad a chur chun cinn.
Gheobhaidh na daoine a chláróidh chun páir t a
ghlacadh i nGlantachán Náisiúnta an Earraigh Clean-up
Kit (urraithe ag an gCuideachta Wrigley) saor in aisce
ina bhfuil treoracha sláinte agus sábháilteachta,
póstaeirí, leideanna maidir le clúdach agus poiblíocht
na meán a fháil, tabaird srl. Gheobhaidh scoileanna
cláraithe Youth Pack ina mbeidh gníomhaíochtaí
taighde ar nós thionscnamh monatóireachta bruscair
agus suirbhéanna feasachta, bileoga spraoi do leanaí
óga agus mionsonraí comór tais. Beidh Activity Pack
saor in aisce ar fáil chomh maith lena n-áirítear pusail le
dathú agus gníomhaíochtaí spraoi do threoraithe, do
ghasóga, agus do ghrúpaí eile faoi chulaith éadaí.
Tá foirmeacha cláraithe le haghaidh Ghlantachán
Náisiúnta an Earraigh ar fáil faoi láthair ó An Taisce.Tá
cóipeanna de nuachtlitir Ghlantachán Náisiúnta an
Earraigh ar fáil chomh maith.
Tuilleadh Eolais:
Lisa Cassidy, National Spring Clean Manager,
Environment Education Unit,An Taisce,
Halla an Táilliúra, Back Lane,
Baile Átha Claith 8
teil/faics: 01.454 1802
láithreán gréasáin: www.antaisce.orn/nsc
National Spring Clean 2000
National Spring Clean is an innovative campaign which
brings together people from all walks of life to
highlight the litter problem and take action against it.
The campaign is being run by An Taisce – The National
Trust for Ireland, and suppor ted by the Depar tment of
the Environment and Local Government, Coca-Cola
and the Wrigley Company Ltd.This is the second year
of National Spring Clean (NSC) which will run
throughout the month of April 2000. Last year 7,300
tonnes of rubbish were collected at 1732 events
across the countr y, and it is hoped to build on this
success in the 2000 campaign.
National Spring Clean has three clear objectives:
u
u
u
To heighten awareness of litter and waste issues,
To encourage clean-ups during the month of April,
To promote sustained, practical involvement in the
environment all year round.
Those who register to take par t in the National Spring
Clean, will receive a free Clean-Up Kit (sponsored by
the Wrigley Company) containing health and safety
instructions, posters, tips about how to get media
coverage and publicity, tabards etc. Registered schools
will receive a Youth Pack, with research activities such
as litter monitoring projects and awareness sur veys,
fun sheets for younger children and competition
details. A free Activity Pack is also being made available
for guides, scouts and all other uniformed groups
including colouring puzzles and fun activities.
Registration forms for National Spring Clean are
currently available from An Taisce. Copies of the
National Spring Clean newsletter are also available.
Lisa Cassidy, National Spring Clean Manager,
An Taisce,Tailors Hall, Back Lane, Dublin 8
tel/fax: 01.454 1802
website: www.antaisce.org/nsc
Waste and Litter 33
National Spring
Clean 2000
6
EU and International Environmental Matters
Environment Council
Life Programme 2000
The Environment Council met in Brussels on 13
December, 1999, under the Finnish Presidency.
The European Commission has advised that the
submission date for the first call for Life III projects has
been postponed (see Environment Bulletin No. 44). As a
result, the provisional national closing date of 29
Februar y 2000, for the submission of Irish projects to
Depar tment of the Environment and Local
Government, has now been withdrawn.
The Council
u reached political agreement on
(i) a Recommendation providing for minimum criteria
for environmental inspections in Member States.
The aim of the Recommendation is to contribute
to a more consistent implementation and
enforcement of Community environmental law in
the Member States,
(ii) a common position, based on a Presidency
compromise proposal, on a Directive providing for
the assessment of certain plans and programmes,
as well as of their modification, which are likely to
have significant effects on the environment,
(iii) a common position on a proposal for a Directive
on limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide
in ambient air.The proposal aims at establishing
limit values for concentrations of benzene and
carbon monoxide in ambient air and is intended
to avoid, prevent or reduce harmful effects on
human health and the environment,
u
Environmental policy
should be seen in a
wider context where
environmental, social
and economic objectives
are pursued in a coordinated and mutually
compatible way.
was unable to finalise agreement on a proposed
amendment to the European Directive on the
limitation of emissions from large combustion plants.
The main unresolved issue was whether or not to
include existing plants in the scope of the Directive
and the best way to achieve reduction of emissions
from these plants,
u
adopted conclusions on the negotiations on the
Biosafety Protocol scheduled for conclusion in
Montreal in January, 2000; (see separate article
pg 34)
u
noted a progress report from the Presidency on
Commission proposals concerning
(i) national emission ceilings for certain air pollutants,
and
(ii) ozone in ambient air;
u
heard a presentation by the Environment
Commissioner Wallstrom on an assessment of the 5th
Environmental Action Programme and on
environmental indicators, and
u
noted a report by the Commissioner on an ongoing
review of the Community Strategy on Chemicals.
Anne O’Reilly, Environment International Section
tel: 01.888 2603 fax: 01.888 2014
It is anticipated that it will be a number of months
before the EU Regulation governing the new Life
Programme is finally adopted by the European Council
and European Parliament.
A new national closing date will be announced as soon
as the position on the finalisation of the Life Regulation
has been clarified.
Noel Casserly, Environmental Awareness Section
tel: 01.888 2616 fax: 01.888 2014
e-mail [email protected]
Global Assessment of the EU’s
Fifth Action Programme on
Environment and Sustainable
Development
The EU’s Fifth Environment Action Programme,
Towards Sustainability, adopted in 1993, runs up to the
year 2000 (see Environment Bulletin No 41). In
response to a request from the Council and the
European Parliament, the Commission presented a
Global Assessment of the implementation of the
programme: – Europe’s Environment: What Directions for
the Future? (November 1999).
This shows that some progress has been made in
putting into place new and improved instruments to
protect the environment and ensure safety and quality
of life for European citizens. It also recognises that
policies have brought about a reduction in
transboundar y air pollution, better water quality and
the phasing out of ozone depleting substances, and will
lead to fur ther improvements over the next few years.
The assessment also concluded that, despite some
improvements, the state of the environment overall
remained a cause for concern. Awareness among
stakeholders needs to be increased to address issues
such as the impact on the environment of changing
economic and social trends, and the perspective for
tackling climate change in energy consuming sectors.
Looking forward, the Commission recommends that
environmental policy should be seen in a wider
context where environmental, social and economic
objectives are pursued in a co-ordinated and mutually
compatible way.
EU and International Environmental Matters 35
The main recommendations of the Global Assessment
is that a 6th Environment Action Programme, to be
prepared by the Commission in 2000, should be one
pillar in an overall Community strategy for sustainable
development.The 6th Programme should address the
shor tcomings in the implementation of the 5th
Programme and new issues that have emerged since
(e.g. chemicals, GMOs, soil, eco-efficiency), and should
be seen in the broader context of an enlarged EU.
Better information and greater citizen involvement in
environmental decisions are required as well as more
accountability for actions which might harm the
environment. In this context the Commission is
launching a debate on the proposed new programme
and has asked Member States to organise debates with
stakeholders at a national level between Januar y and
July 2000. Comhar, the National Sustainable
Development Par tnership, will par ticipate in this
process. Opinions and contributions to the debate on
the 6th Action Programme may also be sent, by 14
April, 2000, to:
European Commission, Environment DG (B1 – 6EAP),
Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049, Brussels, or by e-mail to:
[email protected]
or via the Environment DG’s website at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/
newprg/index.htm
Kevin Greene, Environment Policy
tel: 01.888 2390 fax: 01.888 2691
Commission on Sustainable
Development
The eighth Session of the Commission on Sustainable
Development (CSD) will meet in New York from
24 April to 5 May 2000.
Agenda 21 provided for the creation of the CSD to:
u
ensure effective follow-up of the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, 1992,
u
enhance international co-operation and rationalise
intergovernmental decision-making capacity, and
u
examine progress in the implementation of Agenda
21 at the local, national, regional and inter-national
levels.
In accordance with the work programme agreed at the
19th Special Session of UN General Assembly (UNGASS)
to review Agenda 21 in June 1997 and, with par ticular
reference to the over-riding issues of pover ty
eradication and consumption and production patterns,
the session will consider :
u
integrated planning and management of land
resources,
u
financial resources/trade and investment/economic
growth, and
u
agriculture, including forestry.
A multi-stakeholder dialogue based on the theme of
sustainable agriculture will take place on 24/25 April
followed by a Ministerial segment to discuss the
session issues on 26/27 April. Preparations for the
2000 Review of CSD progress since UNCED will also
be addressed.
A preparator y intersessional meeting will take place in
New York from 22 Februar y to 3 March. Ireland has
been elected to the Bureau for the eighth session and
will be represented by Patrick F. McDonnell, Dublin
City Planning Officer.
Anne O’Reilly, Environment International Section
tel: 01.888 2603 fax: 01.888 2014
Better information
and greater citizen
involvement in
environmental
decisions are required.
36 EU and International Environmental Matters
UN Protocol on Biosafety
Ar ticle 19.3 of the UN Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) required the Par ties to consider the
need for and the modalities of a protocol on the safe
transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms
(LMOs) that may have an adverse effect on
biodiversity. After more than five years of discussion
and negotiations, the Car tagena Protocol on Biosafety
was finalised by the Conference of the Par ties to the
Convention at its resumed extraordinar y meeting in
Montreal on 29 Januar y 2000. While the overall
objective of the Protocol is the safe transfer, handling
and use of LMOs, it focuses, in par ticular, on the
transboundar y movement (i.e. between countries) of
LMOs for intentional release into the environment in
the countr y of impor t.
An important provision
of the Protocol is the
recognition that trade
and environment
agreements should be
mutually supportive in
achieving sustainable
development.
Based on the precautionar y approach set down in
Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment
and Development, the process for achieving the
fundamental safety objective of the Protocol is based
on an advanced informed agreement (AIA) procedure.
Under this provision, a countr y of impor t may grant or
refuse consent for a proposed transboundar y
movement of an LMO for intentional introduction into
the environment.The AIA procedure applies to the
first transboundar y movement of an LMO to a countr y
of impor t and the decision of that countr y to grant or
refuse consent must be based on a sound scientific risk
assessment.
In terms of the scope of the Protocol, intentional
introduction into the environment relates to proposals
such as the impor ting of seed for cultivation. It does
not cover LMOs intended for direct use as food or
feed, or for processing and the AIA procedure does
not apply to the transboundar y movement of such
LMOs. However, the Protocol does make separate
provision for individual Par ties to regulate the use,
including the placing on the market, of LMOs for direct
use as food or feed, or for processing. Existing national
and EU legislation on the marketing of novel foods
(including genetically modified foods) is therefore
unaffected by the Protocol.
Pharmaceuticals for human use, which are addressed
by other international agreements or organisations, are
fully exempted from the requirements of the Protocol.
Exemption from the AIA procedure also applies to the
transit of LMOs through territories of countries other
than the countr y of impor t and the transboundar y
movement of LMOs destined for contained use in the
countr y of impor t.
Other key provisions of the Protocol include:
u
requirements that, in transboundary movement,
LMOs are handled, packaged and transported under
conditions of safety, taking into account relevant
international rules and standards,
u
specific identification requirements for the different
types of transboundary movements covered, i.e.,
LMOs intended for use as food, feed or for
processing, LMOs destined for contained use, and
LMOs (such as seed for cultivation) intended for
deliberate release into the environment,
u
establishment of a biosafety clearing house to assist
parties (particularly developing countries) to
implement the Protocol, and to facilitate the
exchange of information and experience.
An impor tant provision of the Protocol is the
recognition that trade and environment agreements
should be mutually suppor tive in achieving sustainable
development. Its provisions do not therefore imply any
change in the rights and obligations of a Par ty under
any existing international agreements. Of equal
impor tance, par ticularly from an environmental point
of view, is the clarification that the Protocol is not
subordinate to any other international agreement.The
issue of possible subordination was a matter of
considerable concern for many countries in the
context of WTO negotiations.
The right of individual Par ties (including the EU as a
par ty to the CBD in its own right) to take action on
the conser vation and sustainable use of biological
diversity is also recognised. Par ties are not restricted
from taking actions that are more protective, provided
such actions are consistent with the objectives and
provisions of the Protocol, and are in accordance with
other obligations under international law. Within the
EU, a regulator y framework on modern biotechnology,
including a specific Directive regulating the deliberate
release of GMOs (essentially the same as LMOs) to
the environment, is in place.
The Protocol will be open for signature from 15 May
2000 and will come into effect when it has been
ratified by a minimum of fifty Par ties to the
Convention.
Owen Ryan, Environment Policy Section
tel: 01.888 2086 fax: 01.888 2691
Appendices 37
Appendices
Appendix 1
Local Agenda 21 Officers and
Environmental Education Officers
Appendix 2
The Great Gardens of Ireland
Appendix 3
Winners of the ESB Environmental
Photography Awards 1999
Appendix 4
Appendix 5
Litter Enforcement Statistics:
January – June 1999
Calendar of Events/Exhibitions at ENFO
Recent Publications
Appendix One
Local Agenda 21 Officers and Environmental Education Officers
Name
Title
BERNIE O’BRIEN
Local Agenda 21 Officer
SEAMUS NEELEY
K E V I N R E I L LY
Environmental
Education Officer
MICHAEL MC NAMARA
T I N A K N OX - F L E M I N G
Environmental
Education Officer
PA U L M U R P H Y
J . T. M OY N I H A N
M A RY M C H U G H
Environmental
Education Officer
M A R G A R E T H OWA R D
BRIAN BUCKLEY
Environmental
Education Officer
F R A N K M U R R AY
M A R G A R E T F OY N E S
Environmental
Education Officer
EUGENE DEASY
HELEN MAHER
Environmental
Education Officer
MARGARET CAMPBELL
Environmental
Education Officer
G A RY K E O G H
Environmental
Education Officer
JOE CONSIDINE
L I A M G AV I N
SINEAD NI MHAINNIN
Environmental
Education Officer
FERGUS DILLON
MICHAEL O’COILEAIN
Environmental
Education Officer
PHILOMENA HICKEY
AO I F E O ’ M A L L E Y
Environmental
Education Officer
JIMMY GIBBONS
M A RY G R I F F I N
DA M H N A I T M C G U I R E
Environmental
Education Officer
Appendices 39
Company
Address 1
Phone
Fax
e-mail
Carlow County Council
County Offices
Athy Road, Co. Carlow
0503 70300
0503 31582
[email protected]
Courthouse
Co. Cavan
049 433 1799
049 436 1565
[email protected]
Courthouse
Co. Cavan
049 433 1799
049 436 1565
[email protected]
New Road
Ennis, Co. Clare
065 682 1616
065 682 8233
[email protected]
New Road
Ennis, Co. Clare
065 684 6387
065 682 8233
[email protected]
Floor 11, County Hall
Co. Cork
021 285 393
021 345 179
Cork Corporation
City Hall, Co. Cork
021 924 315
021 315 746
[email protected]
Donegal County Council
County House,
Lifford, Co. Donegal
074 72222
074 41204
[email protected]
46/49 Upper O’Connell St.
Dublin 1
01 872 7777
01 872 7113
[email protected]
46/49 Upper O’Connell St.
Dublin 1
01 872 7777
872 7113
[email protected]
Civic Offices,
Wood Quay, Dublin 8
01 672 3300
01 670 7334
[email protected]
68-71 Marrowbone Lane,
Dublin 8
01 411 4359
086 815 0580
01 454 4830
[email protected]
Dun Laoghaire /
Rathdown County Council
County Hall, Dun Laoghaire
Co. Dublin
01 205 4700
01 2300 125
[email protected]
Dun Laoghaire /
Rathdown County Council
County Hall, Dun Laoghaire
Co. Dublin
01 205 4700
01 2300 125
[email protected]
South Dublin County Council
PO Box 4122,
Town Centre,Tallaght,
Co. Dublin
01 414 9000
01 419 9101
[email protected]
PO Box 4122,
Town Centre,Tallaght
Co. Dublin
01 414 9000
01 419 9101
[email protected]
Galway Corporation
City Hall, College Road
Co. Galway
091 568 151
091 567 493
[email protected]
Galway County Council
Liosban Retail Centre,
Tuam, Co. Galway
091 509 000
091 509 010
[email protected]
Prospect Hill
Galway, Co. Galway
091 509 000
091 509 010
[email protected]
Aras an Chontae,
Tralee, Co. Kerry
066 21111
066 22466
[email protected]
Aras an Chontae,
Tralee, Co. Kerry
066 21111
066 22466
[email protected]
St. Mary’s,
Naas, Co. Kildare
045 873 800
045 876 875
[email protected]
St. Marys,
Naas, Co. Kildare
045 873 838
045 876 875
[email protected]
County Hall, John Street
Co. Kilkenny
056 52699
056 63384
[email protected]
County Hall, Portlaoise,
Co. Laois
0502 22044
0502 22313
[email protected]
County Hall, Portlaoise,
Co. Laois
0502 22044
0502 22313
[email protected]
Cavan County Council
Cavan County Council
Clare County Council
Clare County Council
Cork County Council
Fingal County Council
Fingal County Council
Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation
South Dublin County Council
Galway County Council
Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council
Kildare County Council
Kildare County Council
Kilkenny County Council
Laois County Council
Laois County Council
Appendix One, contd.
Local Agenda 21 Officers and Environmental Education Officers
Name
Title
S E A N K I E LT Y
LIAM MOLONEY
Environmental
Education Officer
C O N N M U R R AY
JAMES FEANE
PA U L I N E M C D O N A G H
Environmental
Education Officer
M A RY M U RTA G H
DA N R O O N E Y
PAT C O M M O N S
J O E FA H E Y
CLAIRE KING
Environmental
Education Officer
B I L LY M O O R E
MARIE DEIGHAN
Environmental
Education Officer
R AY C A R R O L L
Environmental
Education Officer
BRIAN DUFFY
J O H N O ’ DW Y E R
BRIAN CLANCY
B I L LY D OY L E
JOHN ANDREWS
CARMEL HOURIGAN
GEORGE LAMBDEN
MAURICE STENSON
Environmental
Education Officer
A N N E O ’ R E I L LY
B RYA N D OY L E
MOIRA BYRNE
Environmental
Education Officer
Appendices 41
Company
Address 1
Phone
Fax
e-mail
Leitrim County Council
Park Lane House,
Carrick-On-Shannon
Co. Leitrim
078 20005
078 21023
[email protected]
Park Lane House,
Carrick-On-Shannon
Co. Leitrim
078 20005
078 21023
[email protected]
Limerick Corporation
City Hall, Co. Limerick
061 415 799
061 418 342
[email protected]
Limerick County Council
79/84 O’Connell Street
Co. Limerick
061 318 477
061 318 478
[email protected]
Limerick County Council
79/84 O’Connell Street
Co. Limerick
061 318 477
061 318 478
[email protected]
Louth County Council
Crowe Street, Dundalk
Co. Louth
042 933 5457
042 933 4549
[email protected]
Aras an Chontae
Great Water Street,
Co. Longford
043 46231
043 41233
[email protected]
Aras an Chontae,
Castlebar, Co. Mayo
094 24444
094 23937
[email protected]
County Hall, Railway St,
Navan, Co. Meath
046 21581
046 21463
[email protected]
County Hall, Railway St,
Navan, Co. Meath
046 21581
046 21463
[email protected]
Monaghan County Council
County Offices,The Glen,
Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
047 30538
047 82739
[email protected]
Monaghan County Council
County Offices,The Glen,
Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
047 30504
047 82739
[email protected]
Courthouse,
Tullamore,
Co. Offaly
0506 46800
0506 46868
[email protected]
Courthouse, Roscommon,
Co. Roscommon
0903 26100
0903 25477
Sligo Business Centre,
Market Yard, Co. Sligo
071 42141
087 239 8206
071 41056
[email protected]
Courthouse, Nenagh
Co.Tipperary
067 31771
067 33134
[email protected]
Tipperary (SR) County Council
County Hall, Emmet St.
Clonmel, Co.Tipperary
052 25399
052 24355
[email protected]
Waterford Corporation
City Hall,The Mall,
Co.Waterford
051 873 501
051 870 813
[email protected]
Civic Offices, Dungarvan,
Co.Waterford
058 42822
058 42911
[email protected]
County Buildings,
Mullingar, Co.Westmeath
044 47777
044 42330
[email protected]
County Buildings,
Mullingar, Co.Westmeath
044 47777
044 42330
[email protected]
County Hall
Co.Wexford
053 42211
Ext 310
053 24852
anneo’[email protected]
Aras an Chontae,
Cill Mhantain, Co.Wicklow
0404 20100
0404 67791
0404 20112
[email protected]
Aras an Chontae,
Cill Mhantain, Co.Wicklow
0404 20276
0404 67791
[email protected]
Leitrim County Council
Longford County Council
Mayo County Council
Meath County Council
Meath County Council
Offaly County Council
Roscommon County Council
Sligo County Council
Tipperary (NR) County Council
Waterford County Council
Westmeath County Council
Westmeath County Council
Wexford County Council
Wicklow County Council
Wicklow County Council
Appendix Two
The Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration Programme 1994–1999
Garden
£
Ardgillan Demesne, Co. Dublin
79,950
Ballindoolin House, Co. Kildare
88,631
Ballinlough Castle, Co. Meath
159,372
Bantry House, Co. Cork
200,000
Barryscourt Castle, Co. Cork
10,000
Belvedere Estate, Co.Westmeath
675,457
Birr Castle, Co. Offaly
159,156
Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare
57,165
Creagh Gardens, Co. Cork
258,924
Enniscoe House, Co. Mayo
86,847
Grange Castle, Co. Kildare
80,000
Killruddery, Co.Wicklow
Knappogue Castle, Co. Clare
125,000
66,740
Knock Abbey, Co. Louth
469,828
Kylemore Abbey, Co. Galway
500,034
Larchill Archadian Gardens, Co. Meath
108,849
Loughcrew, Co. Meath
Marlay Park, Co. Dublin
70,000
325,003
Newbridge Demesne, Co.Dublin
66,225
Powerscourt, Co.Wicklow
90,000
Strokestown Park, Co.Roscommon
236,307
Talbot Botanic Garden, Co. Dublin
65,250
Tramore House, Co.Waterford
119,250
Turlough Park, Co.Mayo
199,988
Vandeleur Wall Garden, Co.Tipperary
Woodstock, Co.Kilkenny
TOTAL
85,000
606,655
4,989,631
Appendices 43
Appendix Three
Winners of the ESB Environmental Photography Awards 1999
PROFESSIONAL
C AT E G O RY
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
C AT E G O RY
A M AT E U R
C AT E G O RY
YO U T H
C AT E G O RY
JUNIOR
C AT E G O RY
Winner
Richard T. Mills
Cork
£2000 and a trophy
Winner
Keith Brownlow,
Cheshire, UK
£2000 and a trophy
Winner
John Hooton,
Co. Cork
£2,000 and a trophy
Winner
Mark Russell Hill
Co. Dublin
£500 and a trophy
Winner
Elaine Wynne
Co. Offaly
£400 and a trophy
2nd Prize
Sean Tomkins
Co. Galway
£800 and a certificate
2nd Prize
Robin Mellor,
Braunton, UK
2nd Place
Edward W. Delaney
Co.Wexford
2nd Place
Elaine Wynne
Co. Offaly
3rd Prize
Philip Smyth
Co. Galway
3rd Prize
Norman Piper
Lancs, England
3rd Place
Garrett Byrne
Co.Wicklow
2nd Place
Deirdre O’Neill,
Walkinstown
Dublin 12
3rd Place
Ben Phalan
Co.Wicklow
3rd Place
Emma Treanor,
Co. Galway
Appendix Four
Local Authorities Water Pollution Control Activities, 1998
Table 1: “Personnel Involved in Water Pollution Control, 1998”
Engineers
Technicians
Chemists
No
Work
Yrs
No
Work
Yrs
No
1
0.1
1
0.1
0
County Councils
Carlow
Work
Yrs
0
Administrative/
Clerical Staff
No
Work
Yrs
1
0.05
Others
No Work
Yrs
0
0
Cavan
2
1
2
1.5
0
0
1
0.5
0
0
Clare
1
0.25
3
3
1
1
5
4.5
0
0
Cork
4.5
—
5
5
2
0.6
4
1.25
1
0.5
Donegal
0
0
6
1.17
1
0.26
0.5
0.22
0
0
South Dublin
1
0.12
0
0
1
0.33
1
0.33
1
1
Dun Laoghaire/
Rathdown
1
0.15
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Galway
1
1
2
1
0
0
1
0.5
0
0
Kerry
2
0.5
4
1
2
0.7
3
0.6
0
0
Kildare
2
0.5
2
1.5
0
0
1
1
0
0
Kilkenny
2
1.2
2
2
0
0
3
1
0
0
Laois
1
0.5
2
0.45
0
0
2
0.2
0
0
Fingal
No Information Submitted
Leitrim
No Information Submitted
Limerick
3
1.5
4
1.5
0
0
4
1
0
0
Longford
1
0.2
1
0.5
0
0
1
0.5
0
0
Louth
1
0.8
1
0.8
0
0
1
0.1
0
0
Mayo
3
2
2
1
0
0
3
1
0
0
Meath
1
1
3
2.4
0
0
3
1
0
0
Monaghan
1
0.1
1
0.75
1
0.75
2
1.25
0
0
Offaly
2
0.25
1
1
0
0
2
0.25
0
0
Roscommon
2
1
4
1.66
0
0
3
0.8
0
0
Sligo
1
0.5
3
3
0
0
1
1
0
0
Tipperary N.R.
0
0
2
2
3
3
0
0
3
1.5
Tipperary S.R.
2
1.5
2
1.33
1
0.25
2
1
0
0
Waterford
2
1.16
1
0.33
0
0
2
0.33
0
0
Westmeath
1
0.06
1
0.02
0
0
1
0.25
0
0
Wexford
1
0.2
1
1
0
0
2
0.6
0
0
Wicklow
1
0.33
3
2.33
2
1.33
2
0.33
0
0
Cork
1
0.5
3
1.5
1
0.25
2
0.25
0
0
Dublin
2
2
1
1
3
1.5
1
1
2
2
Galway
0.5
0.5
0
0
0
0
0.1
0.1
0
0
County Borough
Corporations
Limerick
2
0.2
1
0.75
0
0
0
0
1
0.5
Waterford
2
0.04
0
0
0
0
1
0.01
0
0
Appendices 45
Engineers
UDCs
No Work
Yrs
Technicians
No
Work
Yrs
Chemists
No Work
Yrs
Administrative/
Clerical Staff
No
Work
Yrs
Others
No
Work
Yrs
Arklow
1
0.02
1
0.02
0
0
1
0.02
0
0
Athy
1
0.5
0
0
0
0
1
0.5
0
0
Ballina
1
0.02
1
0.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ballinasloe
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Bray
0.16
0.16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.16
0.16
Buncrana
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Bundoran
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Carrickmacross
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0.02
0
0
Castlebar
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
—
0
0
Castleblayney
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Cavan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Cobh
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Dundalk
1
0.05
0
0
0
0
1
0.006
0
0
Kells
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Letterkenny
1
0.02
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Longford
1
—
1
—
0
0
0.5
—
0
0
Macroom
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Midleton
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Monaghan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Naas
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
Nenagh
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Skibbereen
1
0.02
0
0
0
0
1
0.02
0
0
Templemore
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Westport
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wicklow
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Youghal
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
16
1
7
1
3
1
0
0
Regional
Laboratories
Totals
56.16
19.95
85
43.11
25
10.97
67.1 22.486
8.16 5.66
Statistics for UDCs relate to those which made a return. In many cases where no specific figures are
given for UDCs, activities are undertaken on their behalf by the principal local authority in their area.
Appendix Five
“Litter Enforcement Statistics: January – June 1999”
Litter Wardens
Prosecutions
Full Time
Par t Time
Carlow C.C
0
0
0
Cavan C.C
0
1
1
Clare C.C
1
0
Cork South C.C
1
0
Convictions
On the Spot Fines
Issued
Paid
0
0
0
0
0
0
14
8
21
15
1
0
88
56
Cork North C.C
0
0
0
0
0
0
Cork West C.C
0
0
0
0
0
0
Donegal C.C
0
3
1
0
16
7
Dun Laoire/Rathd C.C
1
0
3
3
46
47
Fingal C.C
4
0
5
5
378
184
Galway C.C
2
0
16
11
59
32
Kerry C.C
1
6
12
7
66
68
Kildare C.C
2
0
0
0
375
195
Kilkenny C.C
1
4
1
0
89
62
Laois C.C.
0
1
20
15
27
6
Leitrim C.C
1
0
3
0
18
4
Limerick C.C
2
0
0
0
64
59
Longford C.C
1
0
4
2
3
0
Louth C.C
1
6
11
3
257
177
Mayo C.C
0
0
7
0
0
0
Meath C.C
0
7
12
10
15
13
Monaghan C.C
0
26
9
3
22
17
Offaly C.C
0
2
1
0
8
8
31
Roscommon C.C
1
5
8
8
45
Sligo C.C
0
1
12
5
1
1
South Dublin C.C
4
0
124
38
323
213
Tipperary (NR) C.C
0
2
6
0
14
6
Tipperary (SR) C.C
0
5
1
1
4
3
Waterford C.C
2
60
0
0
23
23
Westmeath C.C
1
3
0
0
221
77
Wexford C.C
0
1
6
5
7
6
Wicklow C.C.
1
39
0
0
56
30
Cork Corp.
5
0
147
13
348
210
Dublin Corp.
20
0
293
176
4182
2510
Galway Corp.
2
0
72
8
390
220
Limerick B.Corp
0
4
4
3
37
31
Waterford B. Corp
1
1
3
0
81
79
Clonmel B. Corp
0
4
0
0
7
4
Drogheda B.Corp
0
1
8
0
54
28
Kilkenny B. Corp
0
1
0
0
174
62
Sligo B.Corp
0
3
0
0
8
2
Wexford B. Corp
0
5
0
0
82
37
Arklow UDC
0
0
0
0
0
0
Athlone UDC
1
0
0
0
0
0
Athy UDC
0
1
0
0
4
4
Ballina UDC
0
1
0
0
0
0
Ballinsloe UDC
0
0
2
8
1
6
Appendices 47
Litter Wardens
Prosecutions
Convictions
On the Spot Fines
Full Time
Par t Time
Issued
Paid
Birr UDC
0
0
0
0
0
0
Bray UDC
1
3
0
0
115
66
Buncrana UDC
0
0
0
0
0
0
Bundorann UDC
0
0
6
4
0
0
Carlow UDC
0
1
1
1
14
10
Carrickmacross UDC
0
1
0
0
0
0
Carick-on-Suir UDC
0
1
0
0
2
1
Cashel UDC
0
1
0
0
0
0
Castlebar UDC
0
2
0
0
16
4
Castleblaney UDC
0
0
0
0
0
0
Cavan UDC
0
1
0
0
2
2
Clonakilty UDC
0
1
0
0
0
0
Clones UDC
0
0
0
0
3
1
Cobh UDC
0
2
1
1
18
17
Dundalk UDC
1
0
10
4
128
78
Dungarvan UDC
1
0
0
0
29
10
Ennis UDC
1
0
5
4
52
36
Enniscorthy UDC
0
2
0
0
21
4
Fermoy UDC
0
1
0
0
6
6
Kells UDC
0
0
0
0
0
0
Killarney UDC
0
2
0
0
7
2
Kilrush UDC
0
1
0
0
1
0
Kinsale UDC
0
1
0
0
0
0
Letterkenny UDC
0
0
0
0
0
0
Listowel UDC
0
1
0
0
2
2
Longford UDC
0
1
11
0
1
1
Macroom UDC
0
1
0
0
6
2
Mallow UDC
0
2
0
0
2
1
Midleton UDC
0
0
0
0
0
0
Monaghan UDC
0
1
2
1
2
1
Naas UDC
0
2
0
0
0
0
Navan UDC
0
2
0
0
100
33
Nenagh UDC
0
2
0
0
5
5
New Ross UDC
0
1
0
0
5
2
Skibbereen UDC
0
1
0
0
0
0
Templemore UDC
0
0
0
0
0
0
Thurles UDC
0
1
0
0
7
1
Tipperary UDC
0
1
0
0
2
0
Tralee UDC
0
3
0
0
5
0
Trim UDC
0
2
0
0
2
2
Tullamore UDC
0
1
12
5
78
36
Westport UDC
0
2
4
2
32
13
Wicklow UDC
0
1
0
0
0
0
Youghal UDC
0
0
0
0
0
0
60
238
859
354
8277
4869
TOTALS
Calendar of Events
Packaging Waste Auditing Workshop
EARA approved Foundation Course in
Environmental Auditing (Dublin)
28 Feb – 03 March
21 March
Contact: Eilish Cummins,
Shannon Quality Training
tel: 067.24464 fax: 067.24288
Contact: Breda Henessy, IBEC,
Confederation House,
84/86 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2
tel: 01. 605 1605 fax: 01. 638 1605
Spillage Control
Environmental Legislation Workshop
29 Feb – 01 March
22 March
tel: 01.605 1605 fax: 01.638 1605
Shannon Quality Training,
tel: 067. 24464 fax: 067. 24288
Globe 2000 6th Biennial Conference
06 – 07 March
07 – 08 March
EMS/Internal Environmental
and Trade Fair on Developing
Auditor (Dublin)
the Business of the Environment
tel: 067.24464 fax: 067. 24288
22–24 March
Contact: Globe 2000, 504.999 Canada
Place,Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 3E1
tel: +604 775.7300 fax: +604 666.8123
website: www.globe.ca
Environmental Management Systems
Our Farmland Birds: the Past, Present
tel: 01. 605 1605 fax: 01. 638 1605
and Future – All-Ireland Conference
on Bird Conservation, Old Ground Hotel,
Ennis, Co. Clare
24 –26 March
Inland Waterways: Regional Seminar –
Shannon Navigation,
Ballykeeron Hotel,
Contact: BirdWatch Ireland,
Ruttledge House, 8 Longford Place,
Monkstown, Co. Dublin
tel: 01. 280 4322
Athlone, Co. Westmeath
08 March
Contact: Noreen Walshe or
tel: 056. 70777 fax: 056. 70788
Advanced EMS Auditors Course (Dublin)
27–31 March
Environment Council
Hazardous Risk Assessment (Dublin)
08 March
tel: 067. 24464 fax: 067. 24288
30 March
System Standard (Dublin)
tel: 067. 24464 fax: 067. 24288
Chemical Safety Training
14 March
tel: 01. 605 1605 fax: 01. 638 1605
of Ministers – Brussels
Environmental Legislation (Dublin)
04 April
ISO 14001 Environmental Management
08 March
tel: 067.24464 fax: 067.24288
tel: 067.24464 fax: 067.24288
EARA approved Foundation Course in
Environmental Auditing (Limerick)
10 – 14 April
tel: 067. 24464 fax: 067. 24288
Calendar of Events 49
EMS/Internal Environmental
The Sixth Annual International
Auditor (Limerick)
Sustainable Development Research
Conference 2000,
16 – 17 May
University of Leeds, UK
13 - 14 April
15 –16 April
Contact: Elaine White, Conference
Coordinator, ERP Environment,
P.O. Box 75, Shipley,
West Yorkshire BD17 6EZ, UK
tel: +0044 (0)1274.530408
fax: +0044 (0)1274.530409
website: www.erpenvironment.org
Maintaining an IPC License
(Dublin)
17 May
The Energy Show 2000,
Exhibition and Workshops,
Control License
tel: 01.605 1605 fax: 01.638 1605
RDS, Dublin
17 – 18 May
Environmental Management
tel: 01.605 1605 fax: 01.638 1605
Contact: Irish Energy Centre,
Glasnevin, Dublin 9
tel: 01. 836 9080 fax: 01. 837 2848
Waste Management/
for the Services Sector
25 April
tel: 067. 24464 fax: 067. 24288
Informal Council of Environment Ministers
Maintaining an Integrated Pollution
18 April
tel: 067. 24464 fax: 067. 24288
Waste Auditing Workshop
30 – 31 May
tel: 01.605 1605 fax: 01.638 1605
Inland Waterways: Regional Seminars –
Shannon – Erne and Ulster Canal,
Slieve Russell Hotel,
Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan
03 May
Contact: Noreen Walshe or
tel: 056.70777 fax: 056. 70788
Forthcoming
Exhibitions at ENFO
Repak
3 – 29 Feb
Chemical Safety Training
03 May
tel: 01.605 1605 fax: 01.638 1605
Tree Council of Ireland
1 – 12 March
Waste Management/Minimisation
(Dublin)
09 May
tel: 067.24464 fax: 067.24288
Environmental Legislation
Workshop
10 May
tel: 01.605 1605 fax: 01.638 1605
An exhibition to raise the public
awareness of Repak, its functions and
activities and the Green Dot.
An exhibition in conjunction
with National Tree Week.
Groundwork
14 March – 14 April
An exhibition on practical
woodland ecology.
Environmental Protection Agency
17 April – 28 July
An exhibition in conjunction with
the publication of the report
Ireland’s Environment - A legacy
for the new Millenium.
Recent Publications
Departmental
Publications
Other
Publications
Report of The Task Force on Dumping of
Radioactive Material in the Maritime Area,
Planning Statistics 1998
Free
Available from:
Siobhan Kenny, Planning Section
tel: 01.888 2822 fax: 888 2692
December, 1999
£5
Available from:
Government Publications Sale Office,
Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street,
Dublin 2
Planning Statistics Quarterly –
Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland –
April to June 1999
Free
Available from:
tel: 01.888 2822 fax: 888 2692
Annual Report & Accounts, 1998
Free
Planning Statistics Quarterly –
Available from:
Radiological Protection Institute
of Ireland, 3 Clonskeagh Square,
Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14
tel: 01.269 7766 fax: 01.269 7437
e-mail: [email protected], website: www.rpii.ie
July to September 1999
Free
Available from:
tel: 01.888 2822 fax: 888 2692
Planning Update Newsletter,
Issue 2
Free
EPA Publications
Available From: Environmental
Protection Agency, Publications Section,
St. Martin’s House,Waterloo Road,
Dublin 4
tel: 01.667 4474 fax: 01.660 5848
Wind Energy Planning for 2000 –
proceedings from the wind energy seminar
for planners, November 1999.
£20
EPA Annual Report and
Free
Available from:
Shinagh House, Bandon, Co. Cork.
tel: 023.42193 fax: 023.41304
Accounts 1998
Available from:
Shinagh House, Bandon, Co. Cork.
tel: 023.42193 fax: 023.41304
Wastewater Treatment Manuals:
Treatment Systems for Small Communities,
£15
A Shopping and Investment Guide
Business, Leisure Centres and Hotels
for Sustainable Living
Free
Newsletter – Vol.6, No.5,
Free
December 1999
Quality of Drinking Water in
Ireland – A Report for the
Year 1998 with a Review of the period
£20
1996-1998
Report on IPC Licensing and
£5
Control 1998
£5
River Quality
Interim Report on The Biological Survey of
ENFO – the Environmental Information
Service, 17 St. Andrew St, Dublin 2
tel: 1890.200 191 (lo-call) or 01.888 2001
fax: 01.888 3946
email: [email protected]
website: www.enfo.ie
Tugtar, ag deireadh gach ailt ar mhaite le háisiúlacht,
ainmneacha agus uimhreacha teleafóin den fhoireann sa
Roinn Comhshaoil agus Rialtais Áitiúil ar chóir iarratais a
chur chucu ar chóipeanna de litreacha ciorcláin agus de
ráitis Airí dá dtagraítear san eagrán seo, agus ónar féidir
fairnéis bhreise a fháil. Tugtar faisnéis dá samhail freisin i
ndáil le Ranna Rialtais eile agus eagraíochtaí eile í gcás is
infheidhme sin. Féadfaidh sé tarlú go ngearrfar táille chun
díol as costais phótachóipeála.
Féadfar cóipeanna d’fhoilseacháin Rialtais (lena n-áirítear
reachtaíocht agus ionstraimí reachtúla) chomh maith le
treoracha agus doiciméid eile de chuid an Aontais
Eorpaigh a fháil ón Oifig Dhíolta Foilseachán Rialtais,Teach
Sun Alliance, Sráid Theach Laighean, Baile Átha Cliath 2,
teil: 01.671 0309 nó 679 3515, nó ar ordú tríd an bpost ó:
Foilseacháin Rialtais, An Rannóg Trádala Poist, 4-5 Bóthar
Fhearchair, Baile Átha Cliath 2, teil: 01.661 3111.
Cuirtear fótachóipeanna de dhoiciméid Aointais Eorpaigh,
ach táille fótachóipeála a íoc, ar fáil freisin d’fhiosraitheoirí
ag Oifig Choimisiún an Aontais Eorpaigh, 39 Sráid Theach
Laighean, Baile Átha Cliath 2, teil: 01.671 2244. Féadfar
cóipeanna a fháil freisin ó na Iárionaid doicméadaithe den
Aontas Eorpach atá lonnaithe sna hollscoileanna i mBaile
Átha Cliath, Corcaigh, Gaillimh agus Luimneach.
Documentation and Further Information
The names and telephone numbers of staff of the Department of
the Environment and Local Government to whom requests for
copies of circular letters and ministerial statements referred to in
this issue should be made, and from whom additional information
may be obtained, are given at the end of each section for
convenience. Similar information in respect of other Government
Departments and organisations is also given where applicable.
A charge to cover photocopying costs may be applied.
Copies of Government publications (including legislation and
statutory instruments) and directives and other documents of the
European Union may be obtained from the Government
Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street,
Dublin 2, tel: 01.679 3515 or 671 0309 or by mail order from
Government Publications, Postal Trade Division,
4 – 5 Harcourt Road, Dublin 2, tel: 01.661 3111.
Photocopies of EU documents are also made available, subject to a
photocopying charge, to callers to the Offices of the Commission
of the European Union, 39 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2,
tel: 01.671 2244. Copies may also be obtained from the European
Union documentation centres located in the universities in Dublin,
Cork, Galway and Limerick.
Printed on paper containing 50% recycled waste.
Féadfar iarrtais ar fhaisnéis faoi aon ghné den chomhshaol
a chur chuig ENFO, Seirbhís Faisnéise Chomhshaoil na
Roinne, ag 17 Sráid Aindrias, Baile Átha Cliath 2
teil: 1890.200 191 nó facs: 01-888 3947,
e-mail: [email protected], website: www.enfo.ie.
Na tuarascálacha, na foilseacháin agus an reachtaíocht
ar fad a luaitear san fheaschán seo, tá fáil orthu ansin
don phobal le tagairt dóibh. Reáchtálann ENFO Iárionad
faisnéise poiblí a bhfuil leabharlann chuimsitheach
tagartha ann agus tugann sé rochtain don phobal ar
bhunachair sonraí náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta faoi thoipicí
comhshaoil.
Feasachán Comhshaoil
An Roinn Comhshaoil agus Rialtais Áitiúil a fhoilsíonn an
Feasachán Comhshaoil.Seoltar iarrtais ar chóipeanna
breise nó ar fholú sa liosta poist chuig
Fergus Doyle, An Rannóg Feasachta Comhshaoil,
An Roinn Comhshaoil agus Rialtais Áitiúil,Teach an Chustaim,
Baile Átha Claith 1
teil: 01.888 2304
nó facs: 01.888 2014
Féadfar an foilseachán seo ar fad nó cuid de a atáirgeadh
gan a thuilleadh ceada ach ba mhór againn admháil a fháil
air sin.
Requests for information on any aspect of the environment can be
made to ENFO, the Department’s Environment Information
Service, at 17 St.Andrew Street, Dublin 2, tel: 1890-200 191 or
fax: 01.888 3947, e-mail: [email protected], website: www.enfo.ie.
All of the reports, publications and legislation mentioned in this
bulletin are available there for public reference. ENFO operates a
public information centre with an extensive reference library and
provides public access to national and international databases on
environmental topics.
Environment Bulletin
The Environment Bulletin is published by the Department of the
Environment and Local Government. Requests for additional copies,
or for inclusion in the mailing list, should be sent to the editor,
Fergus Doyle, Environmental Awareness Section,
Department of the Environment and Local Government,
Custom House, Dublin 1
tel: 01.888 2304
fax 01.888 2014
All or part of the publication may be reproduced without further
permission but acknowledgement would be appreciated.
Design Carton LeVert, Dublin Concept photography Paul Kelly
Doiciméadú agus tuilleadh faisnéise

environment bulletin - Department of Housing, Planning, Community

Transcription

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