1.
General Environmental
Matters
2.
ESB/CVI Community Environment
Awards 2003
The State We’re In Resource Pack
ENFO Workshop on Tour
Green Scene at Dublin Zoo
‘Green-Schools’ - a continuing
success story
‘Scoileanna Glasa’ – scéal a bhfuil
ag éirí fós leis
New Fairtrade Mark
Eco-Unesco Young
Environmentalist Awards 2003
Gradaim Comhshaolaithe Óga
ECO-UNESCO 2003
New Enterprise Ireland
Environmental Website
Eighth VSI Work Camp at NEEC
NEEC and An Taisce Move
Mountain (to ENFO)
Leaping into Action for a Better
Dunlaoghaire-Rathdown
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
6.
7.
7.
8.
8.
2.
Water Quality
9.
10.
10.
Dublin Bay Project
European Blue Flag Awards 2003
Birdwatch Ireland Water Seminar
2003
Seimineár Uisce Lucht Faire Éan na
hÉireann
National Water Conservation
Programme
Dublin Region Water Conservation
South Eastern River Basin
Management Programme
Eastern River Basin Management
Programme
11.
11.
12.
14.
15.
3.
Air Quality, Energy and
Nuclear Safety Matters
17.
Review of Implementation of the
National Climate Change Strategy
Coal Ban Extended to Four New
Areas
Alternative Energy Requirement
Programme
Air Quality Monitoring Annual
Report (2001)
SEI Solar Conference and Study
Tour
European Car Free Day 2003
Lá Saor Ó Charranna na hEorpa
2003
17.
17.
18.
18.
19.
19.
4.
Planning
20.
20.
2003
21.
Tidy Towns Competition 2003
City Neighbourhoods Competition
22.
Comórtas Comharsanachta
Cathrach 2003
Urban and Village Renewal
5.
Natural Heritage
23.
23.
24.
National Tree Week 2003
Seachtain Náisiúnta na gCrann
Grading of Monuments Discussion
Document
6. Waste Management
25.
25.
27.
27.
7.
28.
28.
15.
16.
16.
Water Framework Directive
Water Management Consultation
Paper
New Nitrates Regulations
29.
30.
31.
31.
Environment Fund for 2003
Waste Management (Packaging)
Regulations 2003
WEEE Taskforce Launched
New European Standard for
Recycled Aggregates Use
EU and International
Environmental Matters
Environment Council
Commission on Sustainable
Development
5th Environment for Europe
Ministerial Conference
World Environment Day
New EU Eco-label for Tourist
Accommodation
EU LIFE-Environment Programme
2004
Appendices
Appendix 1:
Appendix 2:
Appendix 3:
Appendix 4:
Appendix 5:
Green Flag Schools 2003
Young Environmentalist
Awards 2003
Blue Flag Awards 2003
Urban and Village Renewal
Allocations 2003
Anti-Litter Enforcement
Statistics 2002
Addenda to Appendix 7 of
Environment Bulletin
Issue 55
Calendar of Events
Recent Publications
Websites
General Environmental
Matters
tel: 01.669 0030 or 087.234 2416 fax:
01.669 0039
e-mail: orla.ryan@ogilvy.com
The State We’re In Resource
Pack
ESB/CVI Community
Environment Awards 2003
The closing date for the ESB/CVI
Community Environment Awards 2003 was
Friday, 13 June. The awards first began in
1998 and have attracted an increasing
number of community environmental
projects from individuals and groups all
around the country.
Entries were invited in four categories:
*
*
*
*
Natural Environment
Heritage
Community Development, and
Youth/Education Projects.
All of these categories reflect the
interdependence and delicate balance
between communities, business and
industry and the environment. The overall
winner will receive E4,000 while the first in
each category will receive E2,000.
Commended projects will be awarded
E1,000 and local winners will receive E500
each. The award money must be spent on
the development of the projects.
The ESB/CVI Community Environment
Awards were designed to acknowledge the
efforts of ordinary people who endeavour to
protect and improve their environment and
to encourage others to follow suit. They
provide an essential platform to encourage
and help communities move towards
sustainable development. The winners of
these awards will be announced on 16
September, 2003.
Mr. Noel Dempsey, TD, Minister for
Education & Science recently launched a
video-based classroom resource pack
developed by the Environmental Protection
Agency. The resource pack has been
developed for the EPA to accompany their
series of TV programmes entitled "The State
We’re In". The resource pack is based on
six of the programmes, and it provides a set
of student tasks and worksheets for each
one. The six programmes deal with the key
environmental issues facing Irish society at
the start of the new millennium, as follows:
-
programme one, "A Tiger’s Tale",
acts as an introduction and overview
of all the key issues
-
programme two, "Crystal Clear",
deals with water quality and water
pollution
-
programme three, "Traffic", deals
with the growth of traffic congestion
and examines some solutions and
traffic management strategies
programme four, "A Climate of
Change", looks at the problem of
climate change and global warming
-
-
programme five, "Waste Land",
focuses on the issue of waste
management and some alternative
strategies to land-filling of waste
-
programme six, "Green Power",
examines the problem of burning
fossil fuels and looks to alternative
energy sources
The pack, in combination with the video, is
designed as a unit for transition year
students. It uses an interdisciplinary
approach and can be used particularly within
the Geography or Science subject areas.
Further information:
Orla Ryan or Claire Guiney, WHPR, 5 Ely
Place, Dublin 2.
The six units of the pack can be approached
individually or studied as a full Transition
Year Environmental Education Module. The
pack provides three different groups of
tasks:
short question worksheets are
provided for each programme,
demanding careful viewing by the
student and should ensure a full
understanding of the issues
-
activities are provided which allow
for further exploration of the issues.
These include group work,
brainstorming, map work and
individual research, and
-
the opportunity to extend the depth
of study through individual and
group fieldwork investigations is
provided. Templates for
questionnaires and the research
methodology are also provided.
This resource pack suits the transition year
philosophy and guidelines. It is skills based
and allows the student to extend their
interests and research skills through a range
of different methodologies. It will engage the
student in active learning strategies based
on issues and activities largely within the
local community.
The resource pack also looks forward to the
new Leaving Certificate Geography
Syllabus, using the Fieldwork Investigation
Techniques, which are proposed within the
Geographical Investigation Unit of the new
syllabus. These student activities will
provide an ideal preparation for the
investigative skills proposed within the new
syllabus.
The resource pack should also provide an
interesting and stimulating way of informing
and empowering students towards the
environmental issues that face all of us.
Further information:
Geraldine Ruane, Environmental Protection
Agency,
Johnstown Castle Estate, County Wexford.
tel: 053.60633 fax: 053.60699
e-mail: g.ruane@epa.ie
ENFO Workshops on Tour
A series of new initiatives have been
developed to improve the availability of
ENFO services outside the Greater Dublin
Area. School and community groups who
cannot easily visit the ENFO premises in St
Andrew Street for lectures and workshops
will be able to avail of visits from a group of
young graduates who will travel to a number
of counties in the South and West of the
country to give ENFO environmental
workshops.
Ms. Kate Bradbury, a marine biologist, will
lead the team and it is planned to give
workshops in up to two hundred schools and
community centres reaching an audience of
up to 60,000 people in the following
localities:
* Waterford
- Waterford, Dungarvan and Tramore
* Wexford
- Wexford, Enniscorthy and Gorey
* Tipperary
- Thurles, Templemore and Roscrea
* Offaly
- Birr, Tullamore and Clara
* Westmeath
- Athlone
* Galway
- Galway City, Athenry and Ballinasloe
* Mayo
- Castlebar, Westport, Newport,Belmullet,
Killala and Ballina
The ENFO Workshop on Tour initiative will
initially run as a pilot project for eight weeks
in September and October 2003, and
pending assessment of its success may
become a regular feature of the ENFO
service. People throughout the country can
also continue to make the most of ENFO’s
touring exhibitions, ENFO publications and
information at their local authority office, and
from ENFO by phone, post, e-mail, and
internet at www.enfo.ie.
Further information:
Brendan Keenan, ENFO - the Environmental
Information Service, 17 St. Andrew Street,
Dublin 2.
tel: 01.888 3925 fax: 01.888 3947
e-mail: brendan_keenan@environ.irlgov.ie
‘Green-Schools’ - a
continuing success story
The number of Irish schools receiving the
Green Flag award for their environmental
management and awareness continues to
grow rapidly. In this, the 6th year of the
programme:
Green Scene at Dublin Zoo
-
As part of its strategy to engage in
partnerships with other organisations
involved in environmental information,
education and awareness, ENFO sponsored
the successful Green Scene at Dublin Zoo
for three weeks during March and April this
year. The fantastic weather brought a record
attendance of 69,848 people during this
period.
117 schools (15 secondary, 100
primary, 1 Montessori and 1
Training Centre under a pilot
scheme) have received the flag for
the first time, and
-
a further 57 schools have been
awarded a renewal of their flags,
some for the second time, for
continuing very high standards of
waste, litter and energy
management over the last number
of years.
Twenty large leaf-shaped panels were each
printed with a different environmental
message, relating to issues such as the
need for recycling of materials, conservation
of energy, and the importance of
biodiversity. A different panel was placed at
each of twenty species enclosures.
Everyone arriving at the Zoo was given a
map showing the Green Scene trail formed
by the twenty panels.
The Zoo’s Education Centre was converted
into a Green Village with an ENFO
exhibition, and stands of ENFO publications,
together with stands from a number of
environmental NGOs. The Australian
environmentalist, Dale Treadwell, thrilled his
young fans with wildlife workshops and
fieldtrips around the Zoo.
The modern Zoo has an important role to
play in environmental education and
awareness, as well as in conservation and
research, and ENFO was pleased to work
with Dublin Zoo’s Education Officer, Una
Smyth, in strengthening this aspect of one of
the world’s oldest zoos.
Further information:
Brendan Keenan, ENFO - the Environmental
Information Service, 17 St. Andrew Street,
Dublin 2.
tel: 01.888 3925 fax: 01.888 3947
e-mail: brendan_keenan@environ.irlgov.ie
Green-Schools is an international
environmental education programme and
award scheme that promotes and
acknowledges long-term, whole-school
action for the environment. Schools that
undertake the programme examine their
own environmental impact with respect to
litter, waste and energy and devise and
implement their own solutions to minimise
these impacts. Research
indicates that schools that undertake the
‘Green-Schools’ programme are on average:
-
reducing their waste to landfill by a
half
achieving and maintaining litter-free
environments, and
saving large amounts in energy
consumption.
To date, 1,370 Irish schools (over one third
of all Irish schools) are participating in the
programme, of which 269 schools in total
have been awarded the ‘Green Flag’. This
makes the Irish Green-Schools programme
one of the most successful at an
international level with over 25 countries
across Europe, Africa and the Caribbean
undertaking the programme.
In Ireland, Green-Schools is operated by An
Taisce in partnership with local authorities
and sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottlers
Ireland Ltd.
Léiríonn taighde go bhfuil scoileanna a ghlac
páirt i gclár ‘Scoileanna Glasa’ ar an meán:
Details of schools awarded the Green Flag
in 2003 are listed at Appendix 1.
*
Further information:
Jane Helps, Green-Schools Manager,
Environmental Education Unit, An Taisce,
Tailors’ Hall, Back Lane, Dublin 8
tel: 01.707 7067 fax: 01.454 1802
e-mail: greenschools@antaisce.org
website: www.antaisce.org or www.ecoschools.org
*
‘Scoileanna Glasa’ – scéal
a bhfuil ag éirí fós leis
Tá an líon scoileanna in Éirinn atá ag fáil
gradam an Bhrait Ghlais de bharr bainistiú
comhshaoil agus de bharr an eolais atá acu
ar an gcomhshaol seasta ag méadú. Anois,
sa séú bliain den chlár:
-
-
Tá an brat faighte ag 115 scoil den
chéad uair (15 meánscoil, 100
bunscoil, 1 Scoil Montessori agus
Ionad amháin Traenála faoi scéim
phíolótach), agus
Tá athnuachan déanta ar bhrait do
57 scoil eile, cuid acu den dara
huair, mar gheall gur leanadar le
bainistiú ardchaighdeáin
dramhaíola, bruscair agus fuinnimh
le blianta anuas.
Is clár oideachasúil comhshaoil idirnáisiúnta
iad na Scoileanna Glasa agus scéim
gradaim chomh maith a chuireann chun cinn
gníomhaíocht fhad-téarmach ar son an
chomhshaoil ina mbíonn páirt ag an scoil ar
fad ann. Scrúdaíonn na scoileanna atá
páirteach sa scéim an tionchar a bhíonn acu
féin ar an gcomhshaol ó thaobh bruscair,
dramhaíola agus fuinnimh agus tagann siad
ar réiteach a bhraitheann siad a laghdódh
an tionchar seo.
Ag cur laghdú de leath ar an
dramhaíl a théann chuig ionaid
dramhaíola
Ag cur timpeallachtaí saor ó
bhruscar ar fáil agus á gcoimeád,
agus
*
Ag sabháil go leor ó thaobh
thomhailt fuinnimh.
Go dtí seo tá 1,370 scoil as Éirinn (os cionn
aon tríú de scoileanna na hÉireann) ag
glacadh páirte sa chlár, agus astu sin tá an
brat glas bainte amach ag 269 scoil. Dá bhrí
sin tá clár na hÉireann i Scoileanna Glasa ar
an gclár is mó a bhfuil ag éirí leis ag an
leibhéal idirnáisiúnta le os cionn 25 tír as an
Eoraip, an Afraic agus an Chairib ag
glacadh páirte sa chlár.
In Éirinn is iad An Taisce i gcomhpháirtíocht
le hÚdaráis Áitiúla a chuireann an clár ag
obair agus faightear urraíocht ó Coca-Cola
Bottlers Ireland Teo.
Tá sonraí maidir leis na scoileanna a bhain
gradam an Bhrait Ghlais amach i 2003
liostáilte in Aguisín 1.
Tuilleadh Eolais:
Jane Helps, Bainisteoir Scoileanna Glasa,
An tAonad Oideachais Comhshaoil, An
Taisce, Halla an Táilliúra, Back Lane, Baile
Átha Cliath 8.
Teil: 01 707 7067 Faics: 01 454 1802
r-phost: greenschools@antaisce.org
láithreán gréasáin: www.antaisce.org nó
www.eco-schools.org
New Fairtrade Mark
On 3 March, 2003, the new international
Fairtrade Mark was launched in Ireland
during Fairtrade Fortnight. The Mark
represents a human figure with its arm held
high in the air - a symbol of hope. The
Fairtrade Mark is an independent guarantee
that producers in developing countries
receive a fairer price for their products.
Fairtrade Fortnight is the annual two-week
event held during the first two weeks of
March to highlight the benefits of Fairtrade
and the availability and quality of Fairtrade
Mark products. During Fairtrade Fortnight,
supporters nationwide held a range of
events to generate awareness and increase
both the supply and demand for Fairtrade
Mark products in their local areas.
Events included:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
school presentations
restaurant canvassing
church gate promotions
solidarity group meetings
coffee mornings
Fairtrade cookery demonstrations
dinner parties
product sampling, and
Fairtrade fairs.
The range of Fairtrade Marked products
available includes tea, coffee, cocoa,
chocolate, bananas and fruit juices. Product
availability has moved from the charity
shops to mainstream supermarkets.
The push to give Fairtrade a stronger
presence throughout Ireland includes Oxfam
Ireland's ‘Small Change BIG DIFFERENCE’
campaign. This campaign is aimed at local
authorities and currently fourteen councils in
Ireland have adopted Fairtrade policies.
They are: Fingal, Dublin, Wicklow, Meath,
Louth, Offaly, Carlow, Clare, Tipperary
South, Galway city, Galway county, Mayo,
Monaghan, Donegal, and Clonakilty Town
Council, which is aiming to become Irelands
first Fairtrade town. Adopting a Fairtrade
policy requires a local authority to serve
Fairtrade Mark tea and coffee in their local
offices. Many councils are also now
promoting their Fairtrade policies in the
community. Government Departments,
including the Departments of Agriculture and
Food, Environment, Heritage and Local
Government, Foreign Affairs, Finance and
Communications, Marine and Natural
Resources, are also now serving Fairtrade
Mark coffee.
Further information:
Fairtrade Mark Ireland, Carmichael House,
North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7.
tel/fax: 01.475 3515
e-mail: info@fair-mark.org
website: www.fairtrade.ie
ECO-UNESCO Young
Environmentalist Awards
2003
On 15 May, 2003 An Taoiseach, Mr Bertie
Ahern, T.D. announced the winners of the
2003 Young Environmentalist Awards.
The senior winning team from Clifden
Community School, were awarded the
environmental premier for examining the
effect of pollution on biodiversity on different
areas along the Connemara coastline. The
project, entitled ‘A study of the littoral zones
of two sheltered rocky shorelines in
Connemara’, attributed the decline in
biodiversity in the Clifden area to pollution
caused by the rapid growth of the town, and
called for improvements to existing
infrastructure.
The team from St. Tiernans College,
Crossmolina, Co. Mayo, were awarded the
Junior Supreme Award for their project on
Water, entitled "Could you be the solution to
water pollution?" which looked at human
impacts on their local Lough Conn.
The Taoiseach presented the Senior and
Junior team members with a special
certificate in recognition of their
achievement, along with a bicycle – one of
the most environmentally friendly forms of
transport available.
The competition, which is run by ECOUNESCO and co-sponsored by Ballygowan
is for 12-18 year olds and invites schools,
youth groups and youth clubs nationwide to
submit projects, choosing from one of the
five key environmental areas: Air, Water,
Energy, Waste and Biodiversity. Registered
entries for the ECO-UNESCO
Young Environmentalist Awards should
reach ECO-UNESCO at 26 Clare St., Dublin
2 by November each year. Projects are
then carried out between November and
February and completed projects reports
must reach ECO-UNESCO by February.
Since its inauguration in 1999, over 2,500
students have entered to win the title of
Ireland’s Young Environmentalist. From the
hundreds of schools that entered
nationwide, nine were shortlisted to attend
the finals ceremony, where they each
received a presentation from An Taoiseach.
The 2003 winning projects (listed at
Appendix 2.) were displayed to the public at
a special exhibition at ENFO, 17 St Andrew
Street, Dublin 2, from 19 to 31 May, 2003.
The awards are implemented under the
guidance of the Department of Education
and Science, with support from the National
Development Plan, and can be integrated
into selected schools’ syllabuses.
Further information:
Elaine Nevin, National Director or Rowan
Oberman, Programme Coordinator, ECOUNESCO, 26 Clare Street, Dublin 2.
tel: 01. 662 5491 fax: 01.662 5493
e-mail: ecounesco@eircom.net
Gradaim Comhshaolaithe Óga
ECO-UNESCO 2003
Ar an 15 Bealtaine 2003, d’fhógair an
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern buaiteoirí Ghradaim
Comhshaolaithe Óga 2003.
Bronnadh an phríomhdhuais comhshaoil ar
an bhfoireann shinsireach as Scoil Phobail
an Chlocháin, as an scrúdú a rinneadar ar
an éifeacht a bhíonn ag truailliú ar
bhithéagsúlacht i gceantair éagsúla ar
chósta Chonamara. Sa tionscnamh seo, ar a
tugadh ‘A Study of the littoral zones of two
sheltered rocky shorelines in Connemara’,
rinneadh ceangal idir an titim i
mbithéagsúlacht i gceantar an Chlocháin
agus an truailliú atá tarlaithe de bharr an
fháis thapa atá tagtha ar an mbaile, agus
d’iarr siad obair fheabhsúcháin a dhéanamh
ar an infrastructúr atá ann faoi láthair.
Bronnadh an tArdGhradam Sóisearach ar
an bhfoireann as Coláiste Naomh Tiarnáin,
as Crois Mhaoilíona i gCo. Mhaigh Eo as a
dtionscnamh ar Uisce, ar a tugadh ‘Could
you be the solution to water pollution?’ a
bhreathnaigh ar na tionchair atá ag daoine
ar Loch Con in aice láimhe.
Bhronn an Taoiseach teastas speisialta ar
na foirne Sinsireacha agus Sóisearacha mar
aitheantas ar a n-éacht, chomh maith le
rothar – ceann de na modhanna iompair is
cineálta don chomhshaol.
Is comórtas é an comórtas, atá faoi stiúir
ECO-UNESCO agus a fhaigheann fourraíocht ó Ballygowan do dhaoine idir 1218 bliain d’aois agus iarrtar ar scoileanna, ar
ghrúpaí óige agus ar chlubanna óige ar fud
na tíre tionscnaimh a sheoladh isteach, agus
roghnú as an gcúig phríomhréimse
comhshaoil: Aer, Uisce, Fuinneamh,
Dramhaíl agus Bithéagsúlacht. Ba chóir
iontrálacha cláraithe i gcomhair Ghradaim
ECO-UNESCO Comhshaolaithe Óga a
sheoladh chuig ECO-UNESCO, 26 Clare
St., Baile Átha Cliath 2 agus iad a bheith
faighte roimh mhí na Samhna gach bliain.
Déantar na tionscnaimh idir mí na Samhna
agus mí Feabhra agus ba chóir tionscnaimh
chomhlánaithe a sheoladh chuig ECOUNESCO roimh mí Feabhra.
Ó bunaíodh é i 1999, tá teideal
Comhshaolaí Óg na hÉireann bainte amach
ag 2,500 scoláire. Ó na céadta scoil a ghlac
páirt go náisiúnta, cuireadh naoi scoil ar
ghearrliosta chun freastal ar shearmanas
deiridh an chomórtais, agus cuireadh gach
scoil in aithne don Taoiseach.
Taispeánadh tionscnaimh bhuacacha 2003
(liostáilte in Aguisín 2. don phobal ag
taispeántas speisialta a bhí ag ENFO, 17
Sráid Aindrias, Baile Átha Cliath 2, ón 19
Bealtaine go dtí 31 Bealtaine 2003. Cuirtear
na gradaim le chéile faoi threoir na Roinne
Oideachais agus Eolaíochta, le tacaíocht ón
bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta, agus is féidir
iad a chur le siollabas scoileanna éagsúla.
Tuilleadh Eolais:
Elaine Nevin, Stiúrthóir Náisiúnta nó Rowan
Oberman,
Comh-ordnóir Clár, ECO-UNESCO, 26
Clare Street, Baile Átha Cliath 2.
teil: 01 662 5491
Faics: 01 662 5493
r-phost: ecounesco@eircom.net
New Enterprise Ireland
Environmental Website
On 14 April, 2003, An Tánaiste, Mary
Harney, T.D., launched a new environmental
information portal at www.envirocentre.ie to
promote environmental awareness in Irish
industry. The new website was developed
by Enterprise Ireland (EI) in association with
the Department of Enterprise, Trade and
Employment and is designed to provide a
one-stop shop for information on a range of
environmental issues for Irish industry,
particularly the Small and Medium-Sized
Enterprise (SME) sector.
The new website will assist Irish industry to
become more environmentally responsible
by developing best practice approaches to
creating and maintaining an eco-efficient
business environment. It outlines what is
required by companies to fulfil their
regulatory environmental obligations, and
demonstrates why improving environmental
practices can boost competitiveness and
enhance overall business performance. The
site also includes information on:
*
support services available in the
areas of climate change, ecodesign, environmental management
systems, and waste management
*
advice on a range of technical
issues, including guidance on
monitoring emissions and air quality,
testing for aquatic toxicity, treating
biological effluent, and controlling
noise pollution
*
details of when and how companies
can benefit from financial incentives
*
downloadable guides on
environmental legislation and
standards that companies are
expected to comply with
*
news, case studies and articles on
topics relating to enhanced
environmental performance, and
diary dates for EI’s regional
environmental business club
meetings and events.
*
e-mail question and answer facility,
and
*
on-site visits and/or a confidential
eco-efficiency reports.
EI anticipates that the website will overcome
some of the main barriers already discussed
and bridge the environmental information
gap for Irish industry.
An important component of the website is
the Environmental Business Clubs, which
are designed to provide a forum for smaller
companies to network with larger
enterprises and other smaller companies in
similar circumstances.
Coinciding with the official launch of the
website, EI held a free half-day
environmental conference for Irish industry
to highlight the benefits of using the website
to assist them in meeting their
environmental obligations. In addition, the
conference also detailed a range of EI’s
environmental support services available to
industry and it demonstrated how improved
environmental practices could enhance a
company’s competitiveness.
Further information:
Gerry Wrynn, Environment Unit, Dept. of
Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Kildare
Street, Dublin 2.
tel: 01.631 2229 fax: 01.631 2823
e-mail: gerry_wrynn@entemp.ie
Eighth VSI Workcamp at NEEC
*
Exclusive to EI client companies (indigenous
companies, in Ireland and worldwide, with
greater than 10 employees) is the EI 4
Business initiative, which provides:
*
assistance with environment-related
issues in the form of Best Practice
Guidance documents
In June 2003, the National Environmental
Education Centre hosted the eighth
Voluntary Services International (VSI)
workcamp in Knocksink Wood National
Nature Reserve to continue the valuable
practical conservation work that has so far
been accomplished in this woodland
reserve.
The workcamps are usually of two weeks
duration and the volunteers live in the
education centre which is adapted to be
home from home for visiting workers.
The tasks that have so far been carried out
by the VSI teams have included:
*
construction of wheelchair-friendly
paths in the woods and wildlife
garden
*
ponds for plants and insects.
*
new woodland trails and
*
removal of cherry laurel from fragile
areas.
International workcamps have become an
integral part of the NEEC year, helping staff
and students to complete tasks that would
be impossible without the help of the
volunteers and the assistance of Dúchas
and DIT.
NEEC and An Taisce Move
Mountain (to ENFO)
The ongoing battle against litter can be
something of an uphill struggle at times.
Events like An Taisce’s Annual Spring clean
where community groups of all sorts to get a
grip on litter in their area, help raise
awareness of Ireland’s litter problem. This
year, to celebrate the great work done by all
the groups and individuals, the NEEC and
An Taisce made a mountain out of rubbish.
The 7 foot tall mountain was made from
wood, plaster of Paris and bags of rubbish
collected in Knocksink Wood National
Nature Reserve.
The mountain was then moved to ENFO
where it formed the centrepiece of An
Taisce’s Spring Clean Exhibition 24 March04 April 2003. It is now on permanent
display at Knocksink. This construction also
features interactive recycling games,
information slots and fascinating facts on our
real waste and litter mountains. Information
Boards are held at ENFO and they are
available to L.A.’s or libraries for display.
Leaping into Action for a
Better Dun LaoghaireRathdown
The NEEC and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
County Council are working together raising
environmental awareness in selected areas
around Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown through
the Local Environmental Awareness
Programme (LEAP). The NEEC have
teamed up with the Council to provide a
range of events in Dundrum, Ballyogan and
Stillorgan. These include:
*
green homework club sessions
*
tree-planting in local authority
estates
*
community litter-picks, and
*
composting events in libraries and
County Council offices.
The NEEC team are also working with
schools in these areas, providing a range of
services for different age-groups. The
NEEC and DunLaoghaire-Rathdown will
continue working together in Stillorgan and
Shankhill over the coming months.
Residents and members of any club or
community groups who would like to get
greener should contact the NEEC or Dun
Laoghaire-Rathdown at the addresses
below.
Further information:
Billy Flynn, National Environmental
Education Centre, Knocksink Wood National
Nature Reserve, Enniskerry,
Co. Wicklow.
tel: 01 286 6609 fax: 01 286 6610
e-mail: neec@eircom.net
or
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Environment
Office, County Hall, Marine Road, Dun
Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
tel: 01.205 4700 fax: 01.230 0125
e-mail: environ@dlrcoco.ie
website: www.dlrcoco.ie
*
storm sewage treatment (to cater for
the additional flows envisaged
during storm periods)
*
primary treatment (to remove
grease, oils, fats and smaller
suspended particles)
*
secondary treatment (to reduce the
bacterial element in the sewage and
to aerate the water)
The original Ringsend sewage treatment
works and associated sewer network were
constructed in 1906 to cater for a population
of 320,000 approx. The continued expansion
of the city led to an ever increasing volume
of sewage which was dealt with by:
*
tertiary treatment (to remove
nitrogen/phosphorous from the
treated sewage)
*
Ultra-violet treatment (to eliminate
microbes in the discharge), and
*
enlarging the treatment works at
Ringsend
*
sludge treatment and disposal
facilities.
*
the construction of a sea outfall pipe
which discharged untreated sewage
from the North Dublin Drainage
System off the nose of Howth into
Dublin bay, and
*
dumping treated sludge (i.e. the
solid waste left over from the
treatment process) into the sea
about ten miles offshore under a
permit issued by the Department of
Communications, Marine & Natural
Resources.
The elimination of primary treated sewage
discharges in the bay will result in the
enhancement of the water quality, and
reduce the health risks to bathers by the
reduction of bacterial discharges. Other
environmental benefits are the expected
reduction of algal growths, which are fed by
nutrients.
2. water quality
Dublin Bay Project
On 13 March, 2003, Mr. Noel Ahern, T.D.,
Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal
announced the approval of the Design
Report for Contract 5 of the Dublin Bay
Project.
The EU Urban Wastewater Treatment
Directive (UWWTD) requires that all
wastewater discharges above certain
thresholds must receive at a minimum,
secondary treatment by the 31st December
2005. Additionally, all discharges of sewage
sludge to surface waters were to cease by
31st December 1998. To address the needs
of a modern capital city and to ensure
compliance with the UWWTD, the Dublin
Bay project is designed to provide
wastewater treatment facilities for a
population of 1.45million. The proposed
treatment facilities include:
*
preliminary treatment (to remove
large particles of suspended matter)
upgrading of the sewer network in
the Howth and Sutton catchments.
These sewers will be connected to
the Sutton Pumping Station, from
where the effluent will be pumped
via the new submarine pipeline
under Dublin Bay to the Ringsend
Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Construction of the Dublin
Bay Wastewater Treatment
Scheme
The Dublin Bay Wastewater Treatment
Scheme entailed the construction of the
following infrastructure:
*
Contract 1 – Interim Sludge
Treatment Works. This process converts
the left-over bio-solid waste (sludge) from
the sewage plant into Bio-fert, an organic
compound used as a fertiliser by farmers,
through a process of thermal treatment.
This contract has been completed and
brought to an end the dumping of sewage
sludge at sea.
*
*
*
*
Contract 2 – Ringsend Wastewater
Treatment Plant. This contract
provides for the construction of a
modern wastewater treatment plant
in Ringsend. This contract has
been substantially completed.
Contract 3 – Sutton Pumping
Station. This contract provides for
the construction of a large pumping
station in Sutton on the north side of
Dublin Bay, which pumps the
sewage from the northern part of
Dublin City and County under Dublin
Bay (through a submarine pipeline)
to the Ringsend Plant for treatment.
This contract has been completed.
Contract 4 – Submarine Pipeline.
This unique contract provided for
the laying of a 11 km long pipeline
under Dublin Bay from the Sutton
Pumping Station to the Ringsend
Treatment Plant. This contract has
been completed.
Contract 5 – Howth Sewers.
Presently, untreated sewage from
the Howth and Sutton catchments is
pumped into the North Dublin
Drainage System where it is
diverted into a tunnel that
discharges off the nose of Howth.
To ensure compliance with the EU
UWWTD, Contract 5 (Part 1 –
Howth & Sutton) will involve the
This contract is in the initial stages of
planning. When completed, it will greatly
benefit the Howth and Sutton catchment
areas through the upgrading of the sewer
network and the transfer of the raw effluent
for treatment at the Ringsend plant. The
practice of discharging raw effluent off the
nose of Howth will cease, and it is
envisaged that incidences of localised
pollution at the local beaches and in Howth
Harbour will be eliminated. Fingal County
Council has begun preparation of Contract
Documents for this element of the scheme.
*
Contract 6 – North Fringe Sewer.
This contract provides for the
construction of a sewer network
stretching across the northern part
of Dublin City from Finglas to Sutton
to collect sewage from the northern
fringes of Dublin City and pump it to
the Sutton pumping station. This
contract will be substantially
completed shortly.
Further information:
Mr. Battie White, Project Engineer, Dublin
City Council, 68-71 Marrowbone Lane,
Dublin 8.
Tel: 01.672 2069 tel: 01.679 0809
e-mail: battie.white@dublincorp.ie
European Blue Flag Awards
2003
On 5 June, 2003, Mr. Martin Cullen, Minister
for the Environment, Heritage and Local
Government, presented the Blue Flag
Awards 2003 to local authorities for 73
beaches and 6 marinas at a ceremony
organised by An Taisce – The National Trust
for Ireland, at Sea Point in Dun Laoghaire,
Dublin. The Minister noted that 97.7% of
coastal bathing areas comply with
mandatory EU values while 84.7% comply
with the stricter aspirational guide values.
These results were slightly down on
previous years’ ongoing improvements.
The criteria for the award of Blue Flags,
which are determined by FEE, include:
*
water quality
*
facilities for visitors
*
beach management (including litter
control), and
*
environmental information and
display facilities.
The Minister highlighted that the Blue Flag
awards were particularly appropriate on 5
June, World Environment Day which for this
year has a special emphasis on freshwater
quality. He stated that the total investment in
water and wastewater infrastructure over the
NDP period amounts to E4.4 billion. Bathing
areas and marinas that received a Blue Flag
in 2003 are listed in Appendix 3.
The Blue Flag scheme is operated by the
Foundation for Environmental Education
(FEE), a non-Governmental organisation.
Further information:
Lisa Clifford, Water Quality Section
tel: 01.888 2468 fax: 01.888 2994
e-mail: lisa_clifford@environ.irlgov.ie
BirdWatch Ireland Water
Seminar
On 11 June, 2003, BirdWatch Ireland hosted
a seminar on the role of wetlands and nature
conservation in River Basin Management
Planning in the Shannon Catchment area.
The aim of the seminar was:
*
to exchange expertise with decision
makers and stakeholders about
integrated approaches to the
management of wetlands, and
*
to motivate individuals to identify
actions that can be undertaken to
enhance biodiversity through the
Shannon River Basin Management
Plan.
The seminar was relevant to people and
organisations involved with other River
Basin Districts. The seminar was held in the
Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, County
Offaly.
The adoption of the Water Framework
Directive (WFD) means that the country will
be divided into 5 River Basin Districts and 2
crossborder River Basin Districts, which will
form the basis for future management. One
such River Basin District will incorporate the
River Shannon and the land drained by it.
The WFD addresses issues of water quality
and aims at developing an integrated
approach to the management of rivers at the
river basin district level. This directive came
into force on its publication in Official Journal
of European Communities (OJEC) in
December 2000. but has to be transposed
into Irish law by the end of 2003.
Speakers included Dr. Alan Barr from Kirk,
McClure and Morton Consultancy, who gave
a presentation on the River Shannon River
Basin District Pilot Project, and
Dr. Ruth Davis from the Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds, who has worked
extensively on the proposed EU Wetlands
Guidance Document that will be issued
shortly by the European Commission.
Further information:
Christine Croton, BirdWatch Ireland,
Midlands Office,
Crank House, Banagher, Co. Offaly.
tel: 0509.51676 fax: 0509.51951
e-mail: ccroton@birdwatchireland.org
Seimineár Uisce Luchtfaire
Éan na hÉireann
Ar an 11 Meitheamh, 2003, bhí seimineár ag
LuchtFaire Éan na hÉireann ar an ról atá ag
bogaigh agus ag caomhnú an dúlra i
bPleanáil Bainistíochta Imchuach
Abhantrach in abhantracht na Sionainne. Ba
í aidhm an tseimineáir ná:
*
Saineolas a mhalartú leo siúd a
bhíonn i mbun cinní agus lucht
leasa faoi chur chuige comhtháite ó
thaobh bhainistíocht bogach
*
Daoine a spreagadh ionas go
dtabharfaidh siad faoi
ghníomhaíochtaí a chuirfeadh
bithéagsúlacht chun cinn trí Phlean
Bainistíochta Imchuach Abhantracht
na Sionainne.
Bhí tábhacht leis an seimineár do dhaoine
agus d’eagraíochtaí atá páirteach i
gCeantair Imchuacha Abhantracht eile. Bhí
an seimineár ar siúl in Óstán Tullamore
Court, Tulach Mhór, i gCo. Uíbh Fhailí.
De réir an Treoir Creatlach Uisce (WFD)
roinnfear an tír i gcúig Cheantar Imchuach
Abhantrachta agus 2 Cheantar Inchuach
Abhantrachta trasteorann, a bheidh mar
bhunús don bhainistíocht amach anseo.
Beidh ceann de na Imchuacha Abhantrachta
seo ar Abhainn na Sionainne agus ar an
talamh atá á scagadh aici. Breathnaíonn an
WFD ar chaighdeán an uisce agus tá sé mar
aidhm aige cur chuige comhtháite a chur
chun cinn i mbainistiú aibhneacha ag
leibhéal ceantair imchuach abhantrachta.
Tháinig an treoir seo i bhfeidhm nuair a
foilsíodh í i Nuachtán Oifigiúil na
gComhphobal Eorpaca (OJEC) i mí na
Nollag 2000 ach caithfear dlí na hÉireann a
dhéanamh de faoi dheireadh 2003.
I measc na gcainteoirí a bhí i láthair bhí an
Dr. Alan Barr as Comhairleoireacht Kirk,
McClure agus Morton, agus thug sé léiriú ar
Thionscnamh Píolóta Cheantar Imchuach
Abhantrachta na Sionainne agus bhí an Dr.
Ruth Davis i láthair ó Chumann Ríoga
Chaomhnú na nÉan, a bhfuil obair mhór
déanta aici ar Dhoiciméad Treorach Bogaigh
an AE atá beartaithe agus a eiseoidh
Coimisiún na hEorpa go luath.
Tuilleadh Eolais:
Christine Croton, Lucht Faire Éan na
hÉireann, Oifig Lár Réigiún, Crank House,
Beannchar, Co. Uíbh Fhailí.
Teil: 0509 51676
Faics: 0509 51951
r-phost: ccroton@birdwatchireland.org
conservation programme. This new
investment builds on the 15 initial factfinding water conservation schemes carried
out by selected local authorities since 1996.
The programme is designed to identify and
substantially reduce the levels of
unaccounted for water in Ireland’s water
supply network.
The National Water Study (NWS) published
by the Department in 2000, estimated that
up to 47% of all water produced by the
treatment plants in the study is unaccounted
for and that in some areas of the country the
level is much higher. Not all of this water is
lost, a good proportion is just not being
properly metered and recorded.
The results of the NWS and the Greater
Dublin Water Supply Strategy Study leave
little room for doubt that a very significant
amount of water is lost into the ground every
day. This is an unsustainable and
unacceptable drain on the resources of local
authorities, the State and on the
environment itself.
The earlier schemes offer very strong
evidence that water conservation, in addition
to the environmental benefits, is a practical,
realistic and economic way of meeting much
of the extra demand for water. This has
been clearly demonstrated in Dublin where,
since the mid-nineties, the requirements of
exceptional growth rates have been met,
with a combination of modest increases in
supply and a comprehensive leakage control
campaign, without the water shortages that
were a feature of the early nineties.
Over E63 million has already been spent by
local authorities on the initial 15 schemes
and on some network rehabilitation work
arising from those completed studies.
The new investment package provides for:
*
E194 million to allow the 14 City and
County Councils that have already
completed the study phase to carry
out the necessary major network
rehabilitation, water conservation
and leakage reduction schemes
identified in the studies.
*
E82.5 million to allow the remaining
17 City and County Councils to
commence studies to map out their
National Water Conservation
Programme
On 9 May, 2003, Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D.,
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government, announced the
allocation of over _276 million for the first
round of a new nation-wide water
water supply networks and to
establish the level and sources of
unaccounted for water.
As part of the study phase, authorities will
also undertake pilot water conservation and
leakage reduction projects, and identify
measures to be incorporated into longerterm strategies. The funding being made
available is in addition to that for new and
upgraded water supply schemes in the
Water Services Investment Programme
2002 – 2004, and reflects the full range of
water conservation measures put forward for
approval by local authorities.
The funding for this new National
Programme represents a very significant
investment. The Department expects equally
significant results. In terms of Active
Leakage Control, returns are instant and
significant. Results from the first 15
schemes from Phase 1 show that
Unaccounted For Water (UFW) rates have
reduced significantly:
*
in Dublin they reduced from 42.5%
to 28.7%
*
in Donegal from 59% to 39%
*
in Meath from 47% to 34%, and
*
in Kilkenny from 45% to 29%.
Similar reductions in UFW rates will be
expected in each of the local authorities now
approved for Phase 1. One immediate result
of Water Management Systems, which are
an essential first step to proper long-term
management strategies, will be the
identification of how much UFW is due to
leakage and how much is due to metering
deficiencies in the non-domestic sector,
thereby identifying new revenue sources for
local authorities. In terms of network
rehabilitation, local authorities will be
required to submit an economic justification
for each proposed scheme. In addition, local
authorities will be allowed to use a portion of
the new allocations for information and
awareness campaigns designed to highlight
what individual consumers can do to reduce
water usage and demand on water
resources.
Further information:
Jack Golden, Water Services Section,
Department of the Environment, Heritage
and Local Government, Floor 2, Block 1,
Irish Life Centre, Dublin 1.
tel: 01.888 2106 fax: 01.888 2687
e-mail: jack_golden@environ.irlgov.ie
Dublin Region Water
Conservation
Background
The development of the water resources for
the Dublin Region in accordance with the
Greater Dublin Water Supply Strategy Study
developed in 1996, identified a capital
investment of _698 million (1996 figure) as
being the minimum necessary to provide
drinking water needs for the Dublin Region.
Since its publication the Dublin Region has
experienced major growth. This was
quantified by the production of the Strategic
Planning Guidelines that predict continued
major growth over the next decade with a
consequent extra demand for drinking water.
Consequently, the projections of the 1996
strategy study in relation to growth were
revised in the year 2000. The development
of the strategy for the Dublin Region centres
on five strategic action lines:
*
*
*
*
*
Water Conservation
Network Rehabilitation
New Source Development
Demand Management
Capital Investment Programme
Water Conservation
The E47 million Dublin Region Water
Conservation Project has reduced leakage
in the distribution network from 42.5% to
28%. This involved a the two-year
construction phase that finished in
September 2000. It was followed by a twoyear maintenance phase to ensure the gains
made were sustained and a further
reduction in leakage was made by local
authority staff during this phase.
The project identified that reduction in
leakage below 28% would require extensive
replacement of the old cast iron mains.
These mains, some of which are over 100
years old, are very susceptible to damage
by ground movement during frosty
conditions. In total, 20 kilometres of water
main were rehabilitated and arrangements
are now being completed to start a
procurement process for the replacement of
a large proportion of the cast iron mains,
particularly in the older developed areas.
Network Rehabilitation
Of the 7,200kms of water mains in the
region, over 800kms are in immediate need
of replacement. A Regional Rehabilitation
Project, commencing procurement in 2003,
is designed to replace a significant portion of
these mains over a 3-5 year period.
Mr. Martin Cullen announced an allocation
of E276m for the first round of a new
nationwide conservation programme in May
2003 of which E118m will be spent replacing
old water mains in the Dublin Region. Until
such time as the rehabilitation of the network
is substantially under way, the City will
continue to have vulnerability in winter
periods, when frost action affects the
network. Progress has been made on a fast
track project to boost production in 2003
following approval from the DEHLG.
New Source Development
Plans have progressed for the procurement
of an advanced design/build contract at the
largest water production plant at Ballymore
Eustace as follows:
*
a target has been set to fast track
this project for completion before the
end of 2004
*
consultants have been appointed to
make recommendations on a series
of short-term development of new
sources of drinking water in the
Dublin Region
*
in 2003 procurement will start for a
consultant to examine major
sources of drinking water for Dublin.
These will included the River
Shannon as well as other sources
identified in the year 2000 review of
the 1996 Strategy, and
*
Kildare and Fingal are developing
existing treatment plants and
bringing on stream new
groundwater sources.
Demand Management
In order to complement the other strategic
actions an active strategy of Demand
Management is necessary to ensure that
drinking water is not wasted. This includes
*
new bye-laws for the conservation
and management of water are being
finalised by Dublin City Council
following public consultation
*
discussions with the DEHLG on how
best to achieve the objectives
included in the Bye-Laws are under
way, and
*
the intention is to develop bye-laws
for other local authorities based on
feedback on the Dublin City Draft.
Capital Investment Programme
*
a E550 million Capital Investment
Programme is being project
managed to remedy infrastructure
deficiencies
*
*
major advances have been made in
advancing schemes for new
covered reservoirs at Vartry,
Ballyboden and Stillorgan, and
contract documents are now with
the DEHL for new water mains
serving the North City area and new
development zones in all seven
local authorities.
Summary
The active delivery of the water investment
strategy has resulted in major improvements
to the level of service
*
despite phenomenal growth in the
Region over the last five years,
water pressure reductions to over
150,000 customers at night time, no
longer take place
*
improvements in water pressure
have also been recorded throughout
the Region
*
over 7,000 new manufacturing jobs
have been created using the water
saved in addition to jobs in the
services industries
*
water quality is constantly monitored
by the Central Laboratory (4 Dublin
authorities) and is subject to annual
audit by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), and
*
in the most recent published report
the water quality fully met the EU
and National Quality standards and
the City was complimented on a
proactive monitoring programme.
Further information:
Tom Leahy, Deputy City Engineer, Dublin
City Council, 68-71 Marrowbone Lane,
Dublin 8.
tel: 01.672 2020 / 086-8150551
e-mail: tom.leahy@dublincity.ie
2002. This emphasises the key role of public
participation and defines it as “allowing
people to influence the outcome of plans
and working processes”. It is a means of
improving decision-making, creating
awareness of environmental issues, and
helping to increase acceptance and
commitment towards intended plans.
Three forms of public participation are
outlined including Information Supply,
Consultation and Active Involvement. The
first two are to be ensured and the latter
should be encouraged. The guidance
recognises that there is no blueprint for
public participation and that it should be
organised and adapted to national, regional
and local circumstances.
The SERBMP has adopted the spirit of the
WFD in attempting to engage active
involvement. The approach taken in the
SERBMP to-date has been as follows:
South Eastern River Basin
Management Project
*
a River Basin Management Group
was assembled in May 2001
In April 2002, the South Eastern River Basin
Management Project (SERBMP) was
initiated. This is the first national River Basin
Management Project to be established.
These initiatives are an integral part of EU
Water Framework Directive(WFD)
(2000/60/EC) implementation in Ireland.
They are being led by local authorities and
sponsored by the Department of
Environment, Heritage and Local
Government under the National
Development Plan.
*
in August 2002, the project sought
expressions of interest from those
who wished to participate in the
River Basin Management process,
and
*
a Public Participation Seminar was
held in Kilkenny on 5th November
2002 with presentations from the
Department of Environment,
Heritage and Local Government, the
Environmental NGO VOICE and the
SERBMP team
The overall objective is to develop, establish
and during the period of the project
implement a River Basin District
Management System to protect and improve
the quality of waters. The rivers include the
Suir, Nore, Barrow and Slaney.
A key objective is the participation of all
stakeholders. Considering that the South
Eastern River Basin Development (SERBD)
is nearly 13,000km2,, representing 20% of
the land area in the Irish Republic, this is a
significant challenge. An EU Guidance
document on the implementation of Article
14 of the WFD on Public Information and
Consultation was published in December
The project proposed the formation of an
SERBMP Interest Group Alliance and the
establishment of a Consultation Forum with
the SERBD Interest Group Alliance.
Three temporary representatives of
SERBMP Interest Group Alliance attended
the River Basin Management Group on 20
November 2002. A follow-up meeting of
interest groups/NGOs was held on 19
February 2003 in Kilkenny. The purpose
was to enable all Interest Groups to discuss
the process of public participation in the
SERBMP and to respond to the proposal for
participation put forward by the project. A
facilitated workshop was held in May 2003.
The process of public participation in the
SERBMP is well ahead of the December
2006 deadline. River Basin Management
Plans are required by 2009.
Further information:
Colin Byrne (Project Co-ordinator)
cbyrne@serbd.com
http://www.serbd.com
Eastern River Basin
Management Project
On 19 April, 2003, Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D.,
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government, announced his formal
approval for a project for the development of
a River Basin Management System for the
Eastern River Basin. The project costing an
estimated E7.8 million, will be funded 100%
by the Department of the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government and will be
led by Dublin City Council on behalf of the
12 participating local authorities.
This project involves a comprehensive
approach to water management and will
also include participation by other agencies
and interests in relation to agriculture,
fisheries, flood management, habitat
protection and tourism. The Eastern Region
covering a land area of some 6,263 square
kilometres accommodates a population of
approximately 1.25 million people, including
major urban centers. The Project will make a
significant contribution towards
implementation of the EU Water Framework
Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC). This
integrated management project for the
Eastern Region includes major river systems
in counties Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Louth,
Meath, Offaly, Westmeath and Wicklow. The
objective is to:
*
establish an integrated water quality
monitoring and management system
in relation to the whole Eastern
River Basin from source to sea,
including the related coastal waters
and groundwater, and
*
provide the bulk of the baseline
information required for the
development of a comprehensive
River Basin Management Plan for
the area.
The project will
*
identify all significant impacts on
water quality and quantity
*
set quality objectives, and
*
identify and put in place the
necessary monitoring and
management measure to achieve
those objectives.
State of the art computer based GIS
systems will identify and collate all human
activities that impact on waters in the region.
Quality objectives will be set and the
necessary monitoring and management
measures will be put in place to achieve
those objectives.
The development of a single integrated river
basin management system for the Eastern
River Basin District will incorporate and
further expand existing works undertaken as
part of the Three Rivers Project. The Final
Report of the Three Rivers Project was
published on 29 November 2002 (see
Environment Bulletin No. 55).
Further information:
Andy Bogie, Water Quality Section.
tel: 01.888 2317 fax: 01.888 2994
e-mail andrew_bogie@environ.irlgov.ie
Water Framework Directive
Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D., Minister for the
Environment, Heritage and Local
Government, announced the launch of the
website www.wfdireland.ie on 19 April 2003.
The purpose of the website is to provide
information to all interested parties about
implementation of the EU Water Framework
Directive (2000/60/EEC) (WFD) in Ireland.
The aims and objectives of the Directive are
clearly spelled out with maps and diagrams
and basic information. The website contains
links to other websites and also has an email facility where individuals can request
more specific information. Material on the
website will be updated to reflect
developments in implementation of the
Directive.
In order to facilitate widespread coverage
and access to the information on this
website, all interested organisations, who
have their own website, are encouraged to
include links to www.wfdireland.ie.
Water Framework Directive Public
Consultation Papers
In March, 2003, two public consultation
papers on the implementation of the EU
Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)
(WFD) were published. The papers are:
*
Managing Our Shared Waters – A
Joint North/South Consultation
Paper on International River Basin
Districts and Administrative
Arrangements for Implementation of
the EU Water Framework Directive
(2000/60/EC), and
Seeking Your Views on Water
Quality – Heritage Council
Consultative Document.
Managing Our Shared Waters
Managing Our Shared Waters is a joint
North/South Consultation Paper, issued by
the Department of the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG) in
the South and the Department of the
Environment (DOE) in the North. The paper
identifies the three international river basin
districts proposed by DEHLG and DOE and
invites the views of all stakeholders on how
best to protect and conserve these shared
river catchments. The paper has been sent
to a wide range of interested parties
including: agriculture, commercial, industrial,
recreational and community interests,
environmental organisations and individual
citizens. The full text of this paper is
available on the website www.wfdireland.ie.
The closing date for responses was 30 May
2003.
Water Management
Consultation Paper
The Heritage Council is a statutory body,
under the aegis of the DEHLG, with
responsibility for proposing policies that will
protect, preserve and enhance Ireland’s
heritage, whether built, cultural or natural.
Water is one of the most important of those
resources and is part of Irelands natural and
cultural heritage. The Heritage Council is
currently drafting a policy on water
management issues and the implementation
of the WFD. As part of this process the
Council published the above mentioned
consultation paper, the objective of which is
to gather views on the following issues:
*
the current state of Irish waters
*
the principles underlying the WFD,
and
*
practical implementation of the WFD
*
what else needs to be done.
*
Requests for hard copies or electronic
versions should be sent to: Andy Bogie,
Water Quality Section, Department of the
Environment, Heritage and Local
Government, Custom House, Dublin 1. tel:
01.888 2317
fax: 01.888 2994 e-mail
andrew_bogie@environ.irlgov.ie
The closing date for responses was 1 June,
2003. The full text of this paper is also
available on the at website
www.heritagecouncil.ie. Queries and
requests for hard copies should be
addressed to: Dr Beatrice Kelly, The
Heritage Council, Rothe House, Kilkenny,
tel: 056.70777,
e-mail: bkelly@heritagecouncil.com
Further information:
Andy Bogie, Water Quality Section
tel: 01.888 2317 fax: 01.888 2994
e-mail: andrew_bogie@environ.irlgov.ie
New Nitrates Regulations
On 29 May 2003, the Minister for the
Environment, Heritage and Local
Government, Mr. Martin Cullen T.D., made
the European Communities (Protection of
Waters Against Pollution from Agricultural
Sources) Regulations, 2003 (S.I. No. 213 of
2003).
These Regulations identify the whole
territory of Ireland as the area for which an
action programme will be developed and
applied for the purposes of the Nitrates
Directive. Detailed provisions of an action
programme will be developed over the
coming months in consultation with the main
farming organisations and other interested
parties.
The action programme will provide for a
range of measures (including regulations) to
strengthen the application of established
"good housekeeping" rules for farming in all
areas. It will consist primarily of measures to
provide better protection for the environment
at farm level and to monitor the effect of
these measures on farming practices and
water quality. This approach aims to secure
better protection for the environment by the
application of good agricultural practice on a
more consistent basis.
Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany,
Luxembourg and the Netherlands have also
adopted a whole territory approach to the
Nitrates Directive.
Further information:
Lisa Clifford, Water Quality Section,
tel: 01.888 2648 fax: 01.888 2994
e-mail: lisa_clifford@environ.ie
3. air quality, energy &
nuclear safety matters
Review of Implementation of
the National Climate Change
Strategy
Coal Ban Extended to Four
New Areas
The Government’s approved National
Climate Change Strategy is subject to a
biennial review to monitor performance on
implementation and effectiveness of the
wide range of policies and measures
identified in the Strategy and to assess
whether additional action is necessary to
meet Ireland’s Kyoto target by the
commitment period 2008-2012. The
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government, Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D.,
recently initiated the first review of
implementation of the strategy and work is
currently underway by the crossDepartmental Climate Change Team in
consultation with Comhar, the National
Sustainable Development Partnership.
On 25 March, 2003, Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D.,
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government signed regulations
extending the ban on the marketing, sale
and distribution of bituminous coal to Bray,
Kilkenny, Sligo and Tralee. The ban will
come into effect in these areas on 1
October, 2003.
The review will update and strengthen the
Strategy by ensuring all necessary policies
are put into place, and their implementation
is pursued vigorously across all sectors. The
priority is to refocus and intensify necessary
action and to overcome any barriers
identified to secure early implementation of
the policies and measures in the Strategy to
ensure our Kyoto target is met. The review
is expected to be published during 2003.
The ban on the sale of bituminous coal
already operates in twelve urban areas;
Dublin (since 1990), Cork (1995), Arklow,
Drogheda, Dundalk, Limerick, Wexford
(1998), and Celbridge, Galway, Leixlip,
Naas and Waterford (2000). The ban has
proven highly successful and all areas have
shown considerable improvement in terms
of recorded smoke levels since being
introduced. Independent medical research
has shown that the ban has resulted in
some 116 fewer respiratory deaths and 243
fewer cardiovascular deaths per year in
Dublin alone.
Further information:
Anne Pender, Air/Climate Section,
Department of the Environment, Heritage
and Local Government, Custom House,
Dublin 1.
tel: 01.888 2787 fax: 01.888 2014
e-mail: anne_pender@environ.irlgov.ie.
The extension of the ban to the four areas is
in accordance with the negotiated
agreement signed by the Department and
the Solid Fuel Trade Group (representing
the principal importers and distributors of
solid fuel) in June 2002 following
consultations on a potential national ban on
bituminous coal and petcoke in 2001/2002.
The Department of Social, Community and
Family Affairs will make an additional
payment during the winter heating season to
qualifying social welfare recipients to assist
lower income households with any
increased cost of smokeless solid fuel.
The Department will issue a public
information leaflet to all households and
businesses in the new ban areas before
October explaining the effects and
implications of the ban.
Further information:
Noel Sheahan, Air/Climate Section.
tel: 01.888 2472 fax: 01.888 2014
e-mail: noel_sheahan@environ.irlgov.ie
Alternative Energy
Requirement Programme
The Department of Communications, Marine
and Natural Resources has announced the
Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) VI
under EU Procurement rules. The
competition aims at ensuring that the 500
Megawatt (MW) target established in the
1999 Green Paper on Sustainable Energy is
reached by 2005.
in the AER Programme will be offered
guaranteed demand contracts which will
oblige the ESB to purchase all the output
from selected new renewable energy based
electricity generation stations for up to
fifteen years at each applicant’s bid price
The new capacity on offer will prevent the
emission of over 2 million tonnes of polluting
greenhouse gases annually, cutting
emissions by one-fifth of our obligations
under the Kyoto agreement, and will:
*
reduce Ireland's dependency on
imported fossil fuels by more than 4
million barrels of oil (7 oil tanker
shiploads) every year or 60 million
barrels of oil (100 oil tanker
shiploads) over 15 years (the
lifetime of the renewable energy
equipment)
*
improve Ireland's national trade
balance by _110 million annually by
redirecting money previously spent
on energy imports back into the
local Irish economy. This is worth
around _2 billion to the Irish
economy over 15 years (the lifetime
of the contracts), and
*
create 350 new secure long-term
jobs in renewable energy equipment
operation and maintenance, and
1,600 full time construction jobs
over the two-year building phase.
AER VI aims at:
*
supporting the overall 500 MW
target delivered by projects under
AER V and VI
*
supporting 2 offshore wind energy
stations, and
*
supporting CHP plants using
biomass rather than natural gas
which is the typical fuel.
Prospective applicants were invited to
submit bid prices in the various technology
categories (excluding offshore where an
indicative price has been set) supported in
AER VI, up to or at the published cap prices
at which they are willing to sell electricity to
the ESB. Details of the price cap in each
category were published in the terms and
conditions for the competition and are
available on the website
www.dcmnr.gov.ie/energy. The categories
include wind, landfill gas, small-scale hydro
power plants, anaerobic digestion plants and
biomass steam cycle CHP.
In a major new initiative 50 MWs are on offer
for the first time in an offshore category. In
this category an indicative price only has
been set to allow developers to bid above or
below that price, but no legitimate
expectation is created that any price above
the indicative price will be accepted.
A total of 167 applications were received by
the closing date of 24 April, 2003. Winners
Further information:
Mr Michael Purcell, Renewable Energy
Division, Department of Communications,
Marine and Natural Resources, Setanta
Centre, Nassau Street, Dublin 2.
tel: 01.604 1682 fax: 01.604 1274
e-mail: michaelj.purcell@dcmnr.ie
Air Quality Monitoring Annual
Report 2001
The Environmental Protection Agency has
published its sixth air quality monitoring
annual report. The report gives data on the
levels of the main pollutants monitored in
Ireland during 2001, including sulphur
dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides,
ozone, lead, carbon monoxide and benzene.
The report assesses air quality data in
relation to existing air quality standards and
future standards which will apply from 2005
and 2010 as set out in the Air Quality
Standards Regulations 2002 (see
Environment Bulletin No. 53). Most of the air
quality data were obtained from local
authority monitoring stations, supplemented
by data collected by the EPA at its own fixed
monitoring sites and by monitoring carried
out by Mobile Units deployed in various
urban centres throughout the country. Data
from other sources is also included where
appropriate.
Overall the report shows that air quality was
generally good throughout the country
although future limit values for NOx and
particulate matter will be challenging to
meet, particularly in heavily trafficked urban
areas.
The full report can be viewed on the
Agency’s website: www.epa.ie or may be
obtained from the EPA Publications’ Office,
Richview, Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14 (tel.
01.268 0100).
*
see solar energy in action first hand,
and
*
learn more about the practical
solutions for the implementation of
solar energy.
In it’s promotional material for the
conference, SEI confirmed that solar energy
can provide cost-effective solutions to fight
climate change and reduce our dependency
on expensive and polluting fossil fuels.
Contrary to what many people may think
solar energy in Ireland is not a myth, and we
are not short of solar energy resources. In
Ireland every year we receive from the sun
the equivalent of 600 times the total amount
of energy we consume. At current energy
prices the average Irish family will spend
over _40,000 in the next 30 years just to
heat their home. Harnessing solar energy
can reduce those costs by over 50%. This
very intense source of free, eco-friendly
energy will always be available and it is
carbon dioxide free. Among the range of
measures that can be implemented are:
*
passive solar design (PSD), an
architectural approach to maximise
natural solar gains, reduces heat
losses and provides natural
ventilation and day lighting
*
the use of sustainable construction
materials when designing and
constructing a building
*
the installation of active solar
thermal systems that use solar
collectors to transform sunlight into
heat and which can be used for
space heating or more commonly to
produce hot water. Solar water
heaters are ideal for new houses or
extensive renovations as their
installation can be integrated in the
overall building work
*
geothermal heat pumps, which is a
complimentary technology to solar,
where a renewable heat pump
harnesses heat from the ground,
water and the air, all of which are
freely available in large quantities
and contain heat at a low
temperature, and
Further information:
Noel Sheahan, Air/Climate Section.
tel: 01.888 2472 fax: 01.888 2014
e-mail: noel_sheahan@environ.irlgov.ie
SEI Solar Conference and
Study Tour
On 19-20 June 2003, Sustainable Energy
Ireland (SEI) hosted a two-day Solar
Conference and Study Tour at the Botanic
Gardens, Dublin. Leading European experts
and Irish practitioners shared their
experience and know-how and familiarized
delegates with the very latest in all solar
technologies. Delegates will had a unique
opportunity to:
*
*
assess the status and potential of
solar energy in Ireland
discover how solar architecture is
delivering sustainable, comfortable,
cost effective, healthy living and
working conditions
*
ground/water source heat pumps
are one of the most efficient ways to
heat space, sanitary hot water and
eventually provide cooling.
Last year over 300 ground or water source
heat pumps were installed in Ireland and this
number is set to more than double this year
as more and more people and businesses
look to the sun for eco-friendly and
affordable energy. When properly designed
and integrated, heat pump systems can
yield a simple payback period of five years
and sometimes less compared to
conventional systems.
Further information:
Sustainable Energy Ireland, Renewable
Energy Information Office, Shinagh House,
Bandon, Co Cork.
tel: 023.42193. fax: 023.29154
e-mail: renewables@reio.ie website:
www.sei.ie
European Car Free Day 2003
On 17 April, 2003 Mr. Martin Cullen T.D.,
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government wrote to all local
authorities to notify them that Ireland will
again participate in European Car Free Day
on 22 September this year and to elicit
support for the event in which Ireland has
participated since 2000.
The purpose of the event is to promote
sustainable approaches to transport,
highlight the adverse effects of cars on the
urban environment in terms of air and noise
pollution, encourage the use of public
transport and alternative modes of transport,
and enable citizens to rediscover for a day
their city or town. Ten local authorities
organised events in 2002.
The event has proven very successful as an
awareness raising measure and market
research carried out in 2002 on behalf of
Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) indicated
that 82% of respondents wished to see the
event repeated.
The Department of the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government, SEI and
the Department of Transport will again be
part-funding local authority participation in
this years event, with up to 40% of eligible
costs available. SEI sent funding application
forms to all local authorities on 14 May. The
following 19 cities and towns will participate.
Athlone, Balbriggan, Clonakilty, Cork,
Drogheda, Dublin, Galway, Greystones,
Killarney, Kilkenny, Listowel, Limerick,
Newcastlewest, Monaghan, Sligo, Tralee,
Waterford, Westport and Wicklow.
As this year’s event falls on a Monday, the
focus of events is expected to be on
commuter and worker mobility rather than
the more family themed events of the last
two years.
Further information:
John McDermott, Air/Climate Section.
tel: 01.888 2373 fax: 01.888 2014
e-mail: john_mcdermott@environ.ie
Lá Saor ó Charranna na
hEorpa 2003
Ar an 17 Aibreán, 2003 scríobh Martin
Cullen TD, an tAire Comhshaoil, Oidreachta
agus Rialtas Áitiúil chuig gach údarás áitiúil
chun a chur in iúl dóibh go nglacfaidh Éire
páirt arís i Lá Saor ó Charranna an 22 Meán
Fómhair i mbliana agus freisin chun
tacaíocht a fháil don imeacht seo a bhfuil
Éire páirteach inti ó 2000.
Is í an aidhm atá leis an imeacht ná chun
cur chuige inmharthanach a chur chun cinn
ó thaobh cúrsaí iompair, agus aird a dhíriú
ar an droch-éifeacht atá ag carranna ar an
timpeallacht uirbeach ó thaobh aeir agus
truailliú de dheasca torainn, agus chomh
maith leis sin daoine a spreagadh chun
córas iompair phoiblí a úsáid agus
modhanna eile iompair, agus an deis a
thabhairt do shaothránaigh sult a bhaint as a
gcathair nó as a mbaile mór ar feadh lá
amháin. D’eagraigh deich n-údarás áitiúil
imeachtaí i 2002.
D’éirigh go maith leis an imeacht sa méid is
gur chuir sé daoine ar an airdeall agus
léirigh taighde margaidh a rinneadh i 2002
thar ceann Fhuinneamh Inmharthanach na
hÉireann (SEI) gur mhaith le 82% dóibh siúd
a ceistíodh go n-eagrófaí an imeacht arís.
Beidh an Roinn Comhshaoil, Oidreachta
agus Rialtas Áitiúil, an SEI agus an Roinn
Iompair ag déanamh cómhaoiniú ar na
húdaráis áitiúla a ghlacfaidh páirt in
imeachtaí na bliana seo, agus suas go dtí
40% de chostais inghlactha ar fáil. Sheol an
SEI foirmeacha iarratais maoinithe chuig na
húdaráis áitiúla ar fad i mí na Bealtaine.
Glacfaidh na 19 bailte seo a leanas páirt san
imeacht: Baile Átha Luain, Baile Brigín, Na
Cloich na Coillte, Corcaigh, Droichead Átha,
Baile Átha Cliath, Gaillimh, Na Clocha
Liatha, Cill Airne, Cill Chainnigh, Lios
Tuathail, Luimneach, Caisleán Nua Thair,
Muineachán, Sligeach, Trá Li, Port Láirge,
Cathair na Mart agus Cill Mhantáin.
De bhrí go bhfuil imeacht na bliana seo ar
an Luan, beidh na himeachtaí ag díriú ar
ríomhairí agus ar an oibrí i gcomparáid le
himeachtaí le dhá bhliain anuas a dhírigh
níos mó ar an teaghlach.
Tuilleadh Eolais:
John mcDermott, Roinn Aer/Aeráid
teil: 01 888 2473
Faics: 01 888 2014
r-phost: john_mcdermott@environ.ie
4. Planning
Tidy Towns Competition 2003
On 25 March, 2003, Mr. Pat the Cope
Gallagher, T.D., Minister of State at the
Department of the Environment, Heritage
and Local Government, launched the Tidy
Towns Competition 2003. Over 700 entrants
are expected to compete for the prestigious
national title of Ireland’s Tidiest Town. The
competition will conclude with an awardgiving ceremony scheduled for Dublin Castle
in early September.
This year, the prize fund was increased to
E142,000 with the National Prize now
standing at E15,000. The Royal Institute of
the Architects in Ireland will award a prize
for a new building which, in the judges
opinion, uses the best contemporary
techniques and design. Repak are the new
sponsors of the Tidy Towns Regional
Awards.
Other events in relation to the competition
include:
*
Ireland’s Best Kept Town
competition with entrants from both
Northern and Southern Ireland
participating. Adjudication took
place in May and the winners were
announced at a prize giving
ceremony on 1 July, 2003, in Dublin
Castle
*
Ireland will be represented by
Malahide, Co. Dublin and Keadue,
Co. Roscommon in the European
Entente Florale Competition 2003,
and
*
on 27 April, 2003, Mary McAleese,
President of Ireland, unveiled a
plaque to mark the success of
Castletown, Co. Laois as National
Winners of the Tidy Towns
Competition for 2002.
The new Tidy Towns web-site may be
accessed at www.tidytowns.ie
Further information:
Ger Norton, Tidy Towns Unit.
tel: 01.888 2300 fax: 01.888 2286
e-mail: geraldine_norton@environ.irlgov.ie
City Neighbourhoods
Competition 2003
On 28 May, 2003, Mr. Pat the Cope
Gallagher, T.D., Minister of State at the
Department of the Environment, Heritage
and Local Government launched City
Neighbourhoods, a new competition for
residential and commercial districts in the 5
major cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway,
Limerick and Waterford. This is a new
competition which aims at replacing the
tremendous success of Tidy Towns in a city
context by mobilising the same community
effort in partnership with business interests,
local authorities and state bodies with the
overriding objective of making our cities
more attractive places to live, work or visit.
The competition is organised by the Tidy
Towns Unit of the Department and is being
run on a pilot basis for the first two years, in
conjunction with the local "Tidy District" and
"Tidy Street" competitions currently
organised by the five city councils. The
highest achievers in those competitions will
be invited to take part in City
Neighbourhoods and will compete for the
titles of:
*
Best Residential Area
*
Best Urban Village, and
*
Best City Street
One overall winner will be awarded the title
City Neighbourhood of the Year.
In addition there will be a number of special
awards for:
*
Best Shopfront
*
Best Landscaped Open Space
*
Best Retail Building/Supermarket
*
Best Old Building
*
Best Modern Building
*
Best Civic Building
*
Best Local Park
*
Most Attractive Pedestrianised Area
and
*
Best Bilingual Neighbourhood
To get the competition up and running, city
councils are being asked to nominate the
areas they want to put forward to compete in
City Neighbourhoods.
This competition forms a key part in
delivering the Government’s Litter Action
Plan – the national anti-litter strategy which
recognises that the local partnership
approach based on concerted action at local
level is regarded as the optimum model for
tackling litter pollution, especially in urban
areas, where the problem is most acute. It
calls on all local authorities to develop these
arrangements with local communities,
business and commercial sectors to
promote public awareness and participation
in local clean up and awareness actions to
improve the local environment. City
Neighbourhoods, with its focus on
community involvement, will be a major
contributor to implementing this strategy.
The competition will also support the
participation of the city councils in the 2003
Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) National
Litter League, a national anti-litter initiative
co-funded by IBAL and the Department. Cooperation between the various sectors at
local level is also essential for a successful
performance in the League. It is expected
that in time, City Neighbourhoods should
become an integral part of the city councils’
anti-litter strategies.
Full assessment criteria are detailed in a
booklet entitled, City Neighbourhoods
Competition which is available from the Tidy
Towns Unit Department of the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government, Custom
House Dublin 1, or from the 5 city councils.
Further information:
Dave McLoughlin, Tidy Towns Section.
tel: Lo call 1890 20 20 21
website: www.tidytowns.ie and your City
Council.
Comórtas Comharsanachta
Cathrach 2003
Ar an 28 Bealtaine 2003, sheol an tUasal
Pat the Cope Ó Gallchóir, T.D, an tAire Stáit
sa Roinn Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus
Rialtais Áitiúil, comórtas nua do cheantair
cónaitheacha agus do cheantair tráchtála
sna chúig chathair mhór Corcaigh, Baile
Átha Cliath, Gaillimh, Luimneach agus Port
Láirge. Is comórtas nua é seo a dhíríonn ar
theacht in áit Chomórtas na mBailte
Slachtmhara i gcomhthéacs cathrach trí
iarracht pobail comhpháirtíocht lucht gnó, le
húdaráis áitiúla agus le comhlachtaí stáit
agus an phríomhaidhm a bheith leis ná
áiteanna níos deise a dhéanamh dár
gcathracha mar áiteaanna chónaithe, mar
áiteanna oibre agus mar áiteanna chun
cuairt a thabhairt orthu a chur i bhfeidhm.
Is é Aonad na mBailte Slachtmhara den
Roinn Comhshaoil a eagraíonn an comórtas
agus tá sé á reachtáil ar bhun píolóta le dhá
bhliain anuas, i gcomhair leis an ‘gCeantar
Slachtmhar’ áitiúil agus na comórtais ‘Sráid
Slachtmhar’ atá á n-eagrú faoi láthair ag na
cúig chomhairle cathrach. Beidh deis ag na
daoine is fearr a n-éiríonn leo sna comórtais
sin páirt a ghlacadh i gcomórtas
Comharsanachta Cathrach agus beidh siad
in iomaíocht do na teidil:
*
An Ceantar Cónaitheach is fearr
*
An Baile Beag Uirbeach is fearr
agus
*
An tSráid Cathrach is fearr
Agus bronnfar teideal Comharsanacht
Cathrach na Bliana ar an mbuaiteoir.
Chomh maith leis sin beidh gradaim
speisialta don:
*
Éadan siopa is fearr
*
Spás Oscailte Tírdhreacha is fearr
*
Ollmhargadh/Foirgneamh Miondíola
is fearr
*
Sean-Fhoirgneamh is fearr
*
Foirgneamh Nua-aimseartha is fearr
*
Foirgneamh Cathrach is fearr
*
Páirc Áitiúil is fearr
*
Ceantar Coisithe is tarraingtí agus
*
Comharsanacht Dhátheangach is
fearr
Tá sé iarrtha ar Chomhairlí Cathrach na
ceantair atá siad ag iarraidh a chur ar
aghaidh don Chomharsanacht Cathrach a
ainmniú ionas go mbeifear in ann tús a chur
leis an gcomórtas.
Tá páirt lárnach ag an gcomórtas seo i
seachadadh Plean Gníomhaíochta Bruscair
an Rialtais – an straitéis frithbhruscair
náisiúnta a aithníonn gurb é an cur chuige
comhpháirtíochta áitiúil bunaithe ar
ghníomhaíocht chomhbheartaithe ag an
leibhéal áitiúil an modh is fearr le tabhairt
faoi thruailliú bruscair, go háirithe i gceantair
uirbeacha, áit a bhfuil an fhadhb níos
tromchúisí. Iarrtar ar gach údarás áitiúil na
socruithe seo a fhorbairt le pobail áitiúla, le
ranna gnó agus le ranna tráchtála ionas go
ndíreofar aird phoiblí ar an áit a ghlanadh
suas agus go nglacfaidh daoine páirt sa
ghlanadh suas go háitiúil agus freisin chun
gníomhaíochtaí eolais a chur ar bun chun
feabhas a chur ar an timpeallacht áitiúil. Mar
sin cuideoidh Comórtas Comharsanacht
Cathrach, leis an bhfócas atá ag an
gcomórtas ar pháirtíocht pobail, le cur chun
tosaigh na straitéise seo.
Tabharfaidh an comórtas tacaíocht chomh
maith do rannpháirtíocht na gComhairlí
Cathrach i Léig Bruscair Náisiúnta 2003,
tionscnamh in aghaidh an bhruscair atá á
chómhaoiniú ag IBAL agus ag an Roinn
Comhshaoil. Tá sé riachtanach chomh maith
go mbeadh comhoibriú idir na ranna éagsúla
ag an leibhéal áitiúil ionas go n-éireoidh le
hobair na Léige. Táthar ag súil, amach
anseo, go mbeidh comórtas
Comharsanachta Cathrach mar chuid
riachtanach den straitéis atá ag Comhairlí
Cathrach in aghaidh an bhruscair.
Tá critéir measúnaithe iomlána sonraithe i
leabhrán dár teideal, City Neighbourhoods
Competition atá ar fáil ó Aonad na mBailte
Slachtmhara sa Roinn Comhshaoil,
Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil, Teach an
Chustaim, Baile Átha Cliath 1, nó ó na cúig
chomhairle cathrach.
Tuilleadh Eolais:
Dave McLoughlin, Roinn na mBailte
Slachtmhara
Teil: Uimhir Glaoch Áitiúil 1890 20 20 21
Láithreán Gréasáin: www.tidytowns.ie
Agus ó do Chomhairle Catharach.
Urban and Village Renewal
On 5 May 2003, Mr Martin Cullen, T.D.,
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government announced allocations
for the Urban and Village Renewal
Measures of the two Regional Operational
Programmes under the National
Development Plan. The aim of these
measures is to provide financial support for
a range of interventions to upgrade cities,
towns and villages to make them more
attractive places in which to live and work
and encourage social and economic
development.
The main features of the package include:
*
E6.5m for major urban regeneration
in the five major cities
*
E throughout the country
*
E1.1m for architectural conservation
of public buildings
*
E2.9m for protected structures, and
*
E200,000 for the Dublin Docklands
Development.
Details of the allocations are listed at
Appendix 4. EU and Exchequer funding of
E8m was also made available to the six
border counties under the Peace II
Programme. This funding aims to assist
communities in the border region who have
been adversely affected during the conflict in
the North by encouraging and supporting
locally based social, economic and cultural
activity. The Special EU Programmes Body
(SEUPB), which was set up under the
Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is the
Managing Authority for this programme. The
programme is made available to the six
county council led-task forces in these
counties to carry out works that focus on
community regeneration. Details of the
allocations are attached at appendix 4.
Further information:
Matt McLoughlin, Urban and Village
Development.
tel: 01.888 2505 fax: 01.888 2286
e-mail:
matthew_mcloughlin@environ.irlgov.ie
5. Natural Heritage
National Tree Week 2003
On 2 March, 2003, An Taoiseach, Mr Bertie
Ahern, T.D., launched National Tree Week
which ran from 2-8 March. It is organised by
the Tree Council of Ireland and jointly
sponsored by Coillte and SPAR.
The aim of National Tree Week is to raise
awareness about trees and encourage local
communities and local authorities to
participate in over 300 events around the
country during the week.
This year’s theme was “clean air - grow your
share” and it reflects the growing concern
about global warming which is caused by
the build up of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the
atmosphere. This build up is contributing to
climate change. Planting more trees and
forests is one of a number of options to
lower CO2 emissions.
Trees also play an essential role in providing
habitats for thousands of plants and animals
and stabilising soil. They are a major
contributor to our economy with the forestry
industry now worth over _450m and
providing jobs for over 16,000 people,
mainly in rural Ireland.
Ireland remains one of the least wooded
countries in Europe with only 9% of our land
planted with trees compared to the
European average of 33%. Ireland has
agreed a target to increase our forest cover
to 17% by 2035.
Events organised for National Tree Week
included forest walks, talks, tree planting
ceremonies and exhibitions. In addition, over
15,000 trees, supplied by Coillte, were
distributed to schools and community groups
by every local authority in the country.
A poster competition was held among the
third level art colleges based on the theme
‘clean air-grow your share’. The winning
poster was unveiled by Derek Mooney, RTE
at the ENFO offices and an exhibition of
some of the other entries was held at ENFO
during March.
The Tree Council of Ireland is a voluntary
organisation formed to promote the planting,
care and conservation of trees. It
represents almost 50 professional, voluntary
and public service bodies that share a
common interest in trees.
Further information:
Dr. Marian Coll, Director, Tree Council of
Ireland, The Park, Cabinteely, Dublin 18.
Tel: 01.284 9211 fax: 01.284 9197
e-mail: trees@treecouncil.ie
website: www.treecouncil.ie
Seachtain Náisiúnta na
gCrann 2003
Ar an 2 Márta 2003 sheol an Taoiseach,
Bertie Ahern, T.D., Seachtain Náisiúnta na
gCrann a bhí ar siúl ón 2-8 Márta. Is iad
Comhairle Crann na hÉireann a eagraíonn é
agus faigheann sé comhurraíocht ó Coillte
agus ó SPAR.
Is í an aidhm atá le Seachtain Náisiúnta na
gCrann ná eolas a fháil faoi chrainn agus
chun pobail áitiúla agus údaráis áitiúla a
spreagadh chun páirt a ghlacadh in os cionn
300 imeacht ar fud na tíre ar feadh na
seachtaine.
Ba é téama na bliana seo ná “aer úr – cuir
do chuidse ag fás” agus léiríonn sé an imní
atá ag dul i méid maidir le téamh domhanda
a tharlaíonn de bharr tuilleadh dhé-ocsaíd
charbóin (CO2) atá sáinnithe san
atmaisféar. Tá an neartú sin ag cur le hathrú
aeráide. Ceann de na bealaí a laghdaítear
astuithe CO2 ná trí breis crann agus foraoisí
a chur.
Tá ról riachtanach ag crainn chomh maith sa
méid is go gcuireann siad gnáthóga ar fáil
do na mílte planda agus do na mílte ainmhí
agus d’ithir atá á chobhsú. Cuireann siad go
leor airgid san eacnamaíocht: is fiú os cionn
450 milliún euro tionscail na foraoiseachta
agus cuireann sé postanna ar fáil do os
cionn 16, 000 duine, an chuid is mó acu
faoin tuath in Éirinn.
Tá Éire ar cheann de na tíortha is lú atá faoi
fhoraois san Eoraip agus gan ach 9% dár
gcuid talún curtha i gcomparáid leis an
meán Eorpach ag 33%. Tá sprioc leagtha
síos ag Éirinn go méadófar an méid talún
atá faoi fhoraois go 17% faoin mbliain 2035.
I measc na n-imeachtaí atá eagraithe do
Sheachtain na gCrann tá siúlóidí foraoise,
cainteanna, searmanais cur chrainn agus
taispeántais. Chomh maith leis sin, chuir
gach údarás áitiúil sa tír os cionn 15,000
crann, a bhí curtha ar fáil ag Coillte, amach
chuig scoileanna agus chuig grúpaí pobail.
Bhí comórtas póstaeir ar siúl idir na coláistí
tríú leibhéal ealaíne bunaithe ar an téama
‘aer úr – cuir do chuidse ag fás’. Is é Dereck
Mooney as RTÉ a nochtaigh an póstaer a
raibh an bua aige ag oifigí ENFO agus bhí
taispeántas de chuid de na hiontrálacha eile
ar crochadh ag ENFO le linn mhí Mhárta.
Is cumann deonach é Comhairle Crann na
hÉireann a bunaíodh chun plandáil crann,
aire agus caomhnú crann a chur chun
tosaigh. Déanann sé ionadaíocht ar
bheagnach 50 comhlacht gairmiúil,
comhlacht deonach agus comhlacht seirbhís
phoiblí a bhfuil suim acu ar fad i gcrainn.
Tuilleadh Eolais:
An Dr. Marion Coll, Stiúrthóir, Comhairle
Crann na hÉireann, An Pháirc, Baile Átha
Cliath 18.
r-phost: trees@treecouncil.ie
láithreán gréasáin: www.treecouncil.ie
Grading of Monuments
Discussion Doucument
A discussion document entitled "Study of
Monument Grading in the Republic of
Ireland" was released at the beginning of
June 2003. This document is an extended
discussion paper outlining some of the
issues that require further consideration if
useful decisions about the appropriateness
of monument grading are to be made.
The recent international trend towards
grading or evaluating aspects of the built
heritage has sprung from the need to
prioritise resources towards the protection of
monuments of recognised value. The Irish
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
has made evaluation a core aspect of its
work. This document explores:
*
the issues surrounding the
implementation of a monument
grading scheme in Ireland
*
in what circumstances grading is
appropriate
*
what criteria might be useful for
evaluation
*
the impact grading schemes might
have on monument protection,
conservation and preservation, and
*
interfaces with other related
disciplines.
The assessment or grading of monuments
has intrigued the archaeological profession
over the last twenty years. The idea that it is
possible or desirable to ascribe defined
levels of importance to aspects of the
archaeological heritage when the greater
part of that resource is still an unknown
quantity is a concept that has been debated.
The proponents of monument grading argue
that the best way to progress research aims
is to utilise a grading system, and this
stance has come to dominate the debate.
The grading of monuments is an objective
form of cultural resource management
(CRM). The application of a CRM approach
permits decisions on what elements from the
past will be retained, cared for and used in
the present and the future. All cultural
materials, including cultural landscapes that
have survived from the past, are potentially
cultural resources and have some potential
value or use in the present or future.
The document does not provide definitive
answers on how to decide which of the
potential cultural resources are to be saved
and which to be sacrificed or left to decay,
but draws together some broad practical
conclusions based on the systems
described. It is intended to be a working text
to inform future policies in the protection of
Ireland’s archaeological heritage. A limited
number of copies are available free from the
Heritage Council; it can also be obtained
electronically from the Heritage Council at
the address below.
Further information:
The Heritage Council, Rothe House,
Kilkenny
tel: 056.70777 fax: 056 70788
e-mail: heritage@heritage.iol.ie
6. Waste Management
Environment Fund for 2003
On 24 April, 2003, Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D.,
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government, announced a _55 million
environmental expenditure programme
under the Environment Fund for 2003. The
Environment Fund, established with
revenues obtained from the Plastic Bag
Levy introduced in March 2002 and the
Landfill Levy introduced in July 2002, will
finance:
*
further bring banks for recyclable
materials
*
civic amenity sites for recyclables
and bulky household wastes across
the country
*
litter prevention programmes, and
*
waste awareness initiatives.
Direct grant assistance of _35 million is
being made available from the Environment
Fund in respect of waste recycling/recovery
initiatives in 2003. It is intended that the
bulk of this expenditure - about _26 million will go towards new or improved recycling
infrastructure, a further _5 million will be
provided to local authorities to offset the
rising operational costs of existing recycling
facilities and about _4 million will be
provided to meet local authority planning
and procurement costs arising from the
provision of regional waste infrastructure.
Expenditure of _20 million is proposed on a
range of other waste and environmental
measures.
The first round of recycling grants was
announced by the Minister in November
2002, and he announced a second round of
grant allocations totalling up to E8.35m in
respect of a further 17 local authority
recycling projects on 24 April, 2003.
Therefore, since November 2002, under the
EU co-financed waste management
measure of the Regional Operational
Programmes, the Minister has allocated
over E22m towards 71 local authority
recycling projects, and further allocations will
follow during the year.
This level of financial assistance is
unprecedented, by comparison, total grant
assistance for recycling over the five year
term of the last Operational Programme was
£7.7 million.
The grant assistance which has been
allocated since November 2002 will support:
*
the provision of about 580 new bring
bank sites around the country
(compared to about 1400 sites
currently)
*
25 new and 5 expanded civic
amenity sites
*
9 composting facilities one new and
one expanded MRF, and
*
the upgrading of many existing bring
banks.
Among the other initiatives and measures to
be supported from the Environment Fund in
2003 are:
*
the establishment of a National
Waste Prevention Programme
*
the establishment of a Market
Development Programme for
recyclable materials, a Recycling
Consultative Forum, and support for
community recycling initiatives
*
a new waste education and
awareness campaign, and
*
better enforcement of environmental
legislation.
Details of expenditure on these individual
initiatives will be announced by the Minister
over the coming months.
Further information:
Rachel Dunn, Waste Infrastructure &
Regulation.
tel: 01.888 2600 fax: 01.888 2014
e-mail: rachel_dunn@environ.irlgov.ie
*
Waste Management
(Packaging) Regulations
2003
On 1 March, 2003, Mr Martin Cullen, T.D.,
Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local
Government announced new regulations
governing the collection and recycling of
packaging waste, entitled the Waste
Management (Packaging) Regulations 2003
(S.I. No. 61 of 2003)
The regulations, which came into effect on 1
March, 2003, revise and replace previous
regulations made in 1997, and subsequent
amending regulations made in 1998. They
are intended to facilitate the achievement of
the end 2005 packaging waste recovery and
recycling targets set for Ireland in EU
Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and
packaging waste, i.e., 50% recovery, 25%
recycling, with a minimum 15% recycling
rate to be achieved in respect of each
packaging material. Ireland is disadvantaged
compared to most other Member States in
that it does not have any energy recovery
capacity, which means that the challenging
recovery target of 50% will primarily have to
be achieved by means of recycling.
It is envisaged that the new regulations will
also support the progress made by Repak
(the compliance scheme set up by industry
to ensure the recovery of packaging waste)
by ensuring that all producers
(manufacturers, importers, distributors,
wholesalers and retailers) who participate in
the placing of packaging on the market,
large or small, play their part in meeting
Ireland’s end 2005 targets under the 1994
Packaging Directive.
The main feature of the new regulations is
the introduction of an obligation on all
producers (both Repak and non-Repak
members) participating in the placing of
packaging on the market to:
*
segregate specified packaging
waste materials arising on their own
premises i.e.back-door packaging
waste, such as waste aluminium,
cardboard, glass, paper, plastic
sheeting, steel and wood, and
have it collected by authorised
recovery operators for recycling.
The regulations further provide that such
waste materials arising in the
manufacturing/retail sector cannot be
landfilled. This new requirement is intended
to influence changed dynamics, practices
and behaviour in relation to packaging waste
in the commercial sector, which accounts for
over 50% of overall packaging waste
arisings. In effect, the object of this new
requirement is to ensure that any such
packaging waste that can be recycled in the
manufacturing/retail sector is recycled.
Further changes provided for in the new
regulations include:
*
the "major producers" (who are
subject to the main requirements of
the regulations) turnover threshold
has been reduced from E1.27m to
E1m. This will broaden the base of
major producers
*
it is made clear that packaging sold
"and consumed" on a producer’s
premises comes within the scope of
the regulations, e.g., bottles sold
and consumed in pubs, clubs and
hotels. This will again broaden the
scope of the regulations
*
the requirement on self-complying
major producers (i.e., non-Repak
members) to provide segregated
take-back facilities for the deposit of
packaging waste by customers may
now be fulfilled either individually or
in co-operation with other selfcompliers
*
for the purpose of enhanced
visibility and awareness of the takeback requirements, specified signs
indicating (a) the obligation of selfcomplying major producers to take
back packaging waste from
customers, or (b) the exemption of
Repak members from these
requirements, must now be of a
specified minimum size and
displayed at each entrance to a
major producer’s premises
*
*
*
the annual registration fees which
self-complying major producers pay
to local authorities are being
increased from £5 per tonne of
packaging placed on the market to
E15 per tonne, subject to a
minimum registration fee of E500
and a maximum fee of E5,000 (up
from the previous range of between
E254 and E1,270). These
increased registration fees should
assist towards meeting local
authority enforcement costs
self-complying major producers
must now submit quarterly returns to
local authorities in relation to
packaging waste accepted,
collected and recovered, instead of
monthly returns. This is intended to
reduce the administrative burden on
self-compliers in submitting returns
and on local authorities in chasing
the submission of returns, and
self-complying major producers
must now submit a new plan every
three years to their local authority on
the steps which they propose to
take to prevent and minimise
packaging waste.
In order for the regulations to have the
desired effect, it is necessary that the
obligation to segregate specified back-door
packaging waste is complied with by all
producers, and equally that it is enforced by
all local authorities. In this regard, the
Department has for the last eighteen months
co-ordinated a network of enforcement
officers from the major urban local
authorities to facilitate improved
enforcement of the Packaging Regulations
in these areas. On foot of the new
regulations, it is intended to extend the
network to all local authorities with a view to
ensuring effective enforcement of the new
regulations on a nationwide basis.
IBEC, in co-operation with the Department,
conducted a series of well-attended regional
seminars during the period end March to
end May for the purpose of raising
awareness and informing businesses and
local authorities of the new requirements
under the new regulations.
Further information:
Terry Sheridan, Waste Prevention and
Recovery Section.
tel: 01.888 2440 fax: 01.888 2014
e-mail: terry_sheridan@environ.irlgov.ie
WEEE Task Force Launched
On 19 February, 2003, Mr. Martin Cullen,
T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage
and Local Government, launched the
Taskforce on the Implementation of the EU
Directives on Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and on the
Restriction on Hazardous Substances
(RoHS).
The taskforce is being asked to develop
proposals for a Producer Responsibility
Initiative (RPI) for e-waste or techno trash,
whereby the producers of electrical and
electronic goods will be obliged to put in
place systems to ensure that such waste is
collected and recycled to the greatest extent
possible. In accordance with the WEEE
Directive, by August 2005, owners of ewaste will be entitled to leave that waste
back free of charge, either to the place of
purchase or to other authorised collection
points.
Electronic waste is one of the fastest
growing waste streams in the European
Union. The European Commission
estimates that the electronic waste stream is
growing at 16-28% every 5 years, which is
considerably faster than the growth rate for
municipal waste. Current estimates are that
some 1.6 billion tonnes of electronic waste is
generated in the EU per annum, which
makes up some 4% of municipal waste. As
a consequence waste from Electrical and
Electronic Equipment has been identified as
a priority waste stream that needs to be
tackled.
The growth in electrical waste has particular
relevance for Ireland, both as a producer of
electronic goods, and also as a consumer.
The Environmental Protection Agency has
estimated that up to 69,000 tonnes of
electronic waste is generated in Ireland each
year, and that between 1991 and 2005 over
1 million tonnes will have been generated. It
is anticipated that large household
appliances and information technology
equipment will make up the bulk of this
waste.
The Directive on the Restriction on the Use
of Certain Hazardous Substances in
Electrical and Electronic Equipment requires
that certain hazardous substances used in
electronic equipment, such as lead, are
phased out by 1 July, 2006.
The new Directives are being developed in
response to the EU decision that the
management of electronic waste can best
be achieved by member states acting
together. Having different national policies
on the management of electronic waste, in
most cases manufactured by global
corporations, would hamper the
effectiveness of recycling policies. For that
reason these new Directives on Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment set
down a common framework for action
across the EU.
The Directives are required to be transposed
into Irish Law by August 2004 and the
Minister has requested the Task Force to
come up with comprehensive proposals for
their implementation in Ireland by the end of
the year.
Further information:
Seán O'Súilleabháin, Waste Prevention &
Recovery Section.
tel: 01.888 2741 fax: 01.888 2994
e-mail:sean_o'suilleabhain@environ.irlgov.ie
New European Standard for
Recycled Aggregates Use
The new European Standard, "Aggregates
for Concrete", which has now been adopted
in Ireland as I.S. EN 12620:2002 will allow
for the use of recycled aggregates to be
used in concrete production. The existing
standard assumes that the aggregate
source is "naturally occurring mineral
aggregates", while the scope of the new
standard specifies the "properties of
aggregates and filler aggregates obtained by
processing natural, manufactured or
recycled materials and mixtures of these
aggregates for use in concrete".
The new standard will co-exist with the
existing Irish Standard for aggregates for
concrete "I.S. 5:1990" until it will be
withdrawn in June 2004
This is a significant change for both
specifiers and producers as it will allow
construction waste that would have been
dumped, be used as a raw material. This will
also help conserve natural reserves of rock
and gravel. The new standard defines
recycled aggregates as "aggregate resulting
from the processing of inorganic material
previously used in construction". The new
standard can be obtained from NSAI
standard sales office Glasnevin, Dublin 9,
telephone no: 01.8073800 or through the
internet at www.standards.ie.
Further information:
Marie Whelan, Executive to National
Construction & Demolition Waste Council,
Construction Federation, Construction
House, Canal Road, Dublin 6.
tel: 01.406 6066 fax: 01.496 6953
e-mail: www.cif.ie
(SDS) and putting into practice the
commitments made at the
Johannesburg World Summit on
Sustainable Development.
7. EU & International
Environmental Matters
*
was informed by the Commission of
the position with regard to the
preparations, including public
consultation for its forthcoming
legislative package proposal on the
Union’s new chemicals policy.
*
was informed by the Commission of
a proposal for a Regulation
concerning the critical uses and
exports of halons, the export of
products and equipment containing
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and
controls on bromochloromethane
*
was informed by the Commission of
a proposal for a Decision on a
monitoring mechanism of
Community greenhouse gas
emissions and the implementation
of the Kyoto Protocol
*
was informed by the Commission, at
the request of the Danish
delegation, of the position
concerning new guidelines for
assessing the presence of
metabolites in groundwater and that
it was preparing two legislative
proposals which would address the
issue of metabolites in groundwater.
*
was informed by the Commission of
a proposal for a Directive on the
limitation of emissions of volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) due to
the use of organic solvents in
decorative paints and varnishes and
vehicle refinishing products
*
noted a joint intervention by the
French and the German delegations
on the importance of promoting
more stringent limit values for
exhaust gas from passenger cars
and lorries with diesel engines, and
*
adopted a Directive providing for
public participation in environmental
plans and programmes.
Environment Council
On 4 March 2003, the Environment Council
met in Brussels under the Greek
Presidency.
At the meeting, the Council:
*
held a policy debate, on the basis of
a paper drawn by the Presidency,
concerning a proposal for a
Directive on the quality of bathing
water
*
adopted Conclusions concerning a
thematic strategy to protect and
conserve the marine environment
*
was informed by the Commission of
the resumption of authorisation
procedures for new genetically
modified (GM) food products and
adopted a common position on the
proposal for a Regulation on the
transboundary movement of
genetically modified organisms
(GMOs). In accordance with the codecision procedure the text of the
common position will be sent to the
European Parliament for a second
reading.
*
*
held a policy debate on the proposal
for a Directive concerning
environmental liability with regard to
the prevention and remedying of
environmental damage.
approved its contribution to the
Spring European Council (20-21
March, 2003) on the review of the
implementation of the Union’s
Sustainable Development Strategy
Further information:
Bart Felle, Environment International.
tel: 01.888 2603 fax: 01.888 2696
e-mail: bart_felle@environ.irlgov.ie
Commission on Sustainable
Development
The 11th Session of the U.N. Commission
on Sustainable Development (CSD 11) took
place from 28th of April until 9th of May
2003 at the UN headquarters in New York.
During this session, the Commission was
expected to take important decisions on its
future multi-year programme of work and to
consider new modalities for its
organizational arrangements.
Agenda 21 provided for the creation of the
CSD to:
*
ensure effective follow-up of
UNCED
*
enhance intergovernmental
decision-making capacity, and
*
examine progress in the
implementation of Agenda 21 at
local, national, regional and
international levels.
Convening for its first substantive session
since the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD), held on the 10th year
anniversary of CSD in Johannesburg in
2002, the Commission commenced with a
three-day high-level segment, where over 40
high-level representatives at ministerial level
addressed the future modalities and work
programme of the CSD. Interactive
Ministerial roundtables took place, with the
broad theme "Priority actions and
commitments to implement the outcomes of
the World Summit on Sustainable
Development". In addition regional
implementation forums, a multi-stakeholder
dialogue with presentations by major groups
on the future work programme of the
Commission and an interactive discussion of
the proposals by major groups were also
held.
Many Ministers stated the urgent need to
implement the Johannesburg targets and
Millennium Development Goals, as well as
to expand the focus on water and energy,
while others welcomed the proposal in the
SG report for a multi-year programme of
work organized as a series of two-year
cycles, with alternate years devoted to
implementation of review and policy, and for
increased attention on implementation at
regional level.
In parallel with the CSD main session a
number of side events, including a
"Partnerships Fair" and a "Learning Center"
were organized. Side events aimed mainly
to highlight voluntary partnerships that
promote sustainable development by and
between governments, civil society and the
private sector. There was particular interest
in energy related side events. Energy, in all
its dimensions was the subject of various
discussions, side events, partnership
presentations and other initiatives. European
Commission’s presentation on partnerships
in Water, Energy and Forests was very
successful. During these side events the EU
priorities of promoting renewable energy
sources, improving access to energy and
promoting energy efficiency and energy
saving were highlighted.
The high level ministerial segment resulted
in the Chairperson’s summary and the
presentation of the draft decision on the
future programme, organization and
methods of work of the Commission. These
documents can be viewed on the UN
website: www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd.htm.
During the second week two working groups
were formed for the consideration and the
final adoption of the Chair’s draft decision.
CSD11 concluded with adoption of the
CSD’s multi-year work programme for the
period 2004-2017, which will be organized
as a series of two-year action-oriented
Implementation Cycles, with a Review
Session and a Policy Session in each cycle.
Each two-year cycle is expected to consider
a thematic cluster of issues, and a suite of
cross-cutting issues, with the upcoming
2004/2005 cycle re CSD12 and CSD13
focusing on:
*
*
water,
sanitation, and
*
human settlements.
It was also agreed that CSD12 would act as
the Preliminary Committee for the 10 year
review of the implementation of the
Barbados Programme of Action for the
sustainable development of Small Island
Developing States (SIDs).
*
it provides the pan-European
political framework for
environmental co-operation in the
UNECE region, and
*
promotes convergence of
environmental quality and policies in
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)
and the Newly Independent States
(NIS), based on an Environmental
Action Programme (EAP) agreed in
1993 and endorsed by successive
Ministerial conferences.
The CSD further decided on the modalities
for reporting, partnerships, and enhancing
UN system coordination and Major Groups
contributions.
The session closed with the election of the
Chair and Bureau members of CSD12.
Borge Brende, Norway’s Minister for
Environment, was elected CSD12 Chair by
acclamation. The Commission also elected
Amb Bruno Stagno (Costa Rica) as a ViceChair on behalf of the Latin American and
Caribbean Region. Chair Moosa indicated
that other Bureau members would be
elected at a later date.
Further information:
Rosaleen Keane, Environment International
Section.
tel: 01.888 2445 fax: 01.888 2014
e-mail: rosaleen_keane@environ.irlgov.ie
5th Environment for Europe
Ministerial Conference
The fifth Ministerial Conference
"Environment for Europe" (EfE) concluded
on 23 May, in Kiev, Ukraine, with the
adoption of the Ministerial Declaration,
which underlined the importance of the EfE
process as a tool to promote environmental
protection and sustainable development in
the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE) region, thus
contributing to wider peace and security.
The Kiev conference took place in the
context of a number of significant
developments that have taken place in the
past decade, which will affect the future
environmental co-operation in the PanEuropean region. These include the EU
enlargement process, new co-operation
mechanisms between countries in Europe,
the evolution of environmental priorities and
challenges from the Rio Conference (1992)
to the Johannesburg World Summit on
Sustainable Development (2002).
During the Conference, three Protocols to
Conventions of the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe were
adopted and opened for signature:
*
thirty-three countries (including
Ireland) and the European
Community signed the new Protocol
on Strategic Environmental
Assessment to the UNECE
Convention on Environmental
Impact Assessment in a
Transboundary Context (Espoo
Convention)
*
twenty-two countries signed the new
Protocol on Civil Liability and
Damage Caused by the
Transboundary Effects of Industrial
Accidents on Transboundary Waters
to the UNECE Conventions on the
Transboundary Effects of Industrial
Accidents and on the Protection and
Use of Transboundary Waters and
International Lakes, and
*
thirty-four countries (including
Ireland) and the European
Environment Ministers and Heads of
delegation from 51 countries in the UNECE
region and the Representative of the
European Commission emphasized their
common goals with respect to the
environment and highlighted their common
dedication to cooperating in achieving high
standards of environmental protection.
The "Environment for Europe" process has
two main roles:
Community signed the new Protocol
on Pollutant Release and Transfer
Registers to the UNECE Convention
on Access to Information, Public
Participation in Decision-making and
Access to Justice in Environmental
Matters (Aarhus Convention).
The Ministers and Heads of delegation also
endorsed the Guidelines for Strengthening
Compliance with and Implementation of
Multilateral Environment Agreements
(MEAs) in the UNECE region.
consultation with other principal subsidiary
bodies, as appropriate, and in cooperation
with other relevant organizations and
institutions, to monitor the outcomes of the
Kiev Declaration in its work programme.
Further information:
Rosaleen Keane, Environment International
Section.
tel: 01.888 2445 fax: 01.888 2014
e-mail: rosaleen_keane@environ.irlgov.ie
World Environment Day
Governments of all seven countries of the
Carpathian region adopted a Convention on
Environment Protection and Sustainable
Development of the Carpathians, which was
opened for signature on 22 May and signed
by Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania,
Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia and
Ukraine.
The Kiev Conference adopted a
groundbreaking Environment Strategy for
Countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and
Central Asia and applauded the efforts of
the Central Asian States to develop the
Central Asian Initiative on Environment,
Water and Security, "Invitation to
Partnership."
Ministers and Heads of Delegation
reaffirmed their support to the Environmental
Performance Review Programme of UNECE
and decided that the programme should
continue. They called upon the European
Environment Agency to prepare a fourth
assessment report for the next ministerial
conference, building on new partnerships,
especially with UNECE and UNEP, and they
expressed their support of the UNECE
Working Group on Environmental Monitoring
and its activities.
A number of other decisions were taken
related to energy for sustainable
development, water for sustainable
development, biodiversity and education.
Addressing the future of the EfE process,
Ministers and Heads of delegation decided
that EfE Ministerial Conferences should be
held on a regular and predictable basis
every four or five years, preferably in a host
country. They invited UNECE, through its
Committee on Environmental Policy and in
On 5 June 2003, World Environment day,
Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D., Minister for the
Environment, Heritage and Local
Government announced a range of
measures being undertaken to protect and
conserve Ireland’s freshwater resources.
The announcements tied in with the theme
of World Environment Day 2003, "Water –
Two Billion People are Dying for It". The
theme calls on each of us to help safeguard
the source of life on our planet – water.
Globally, two billion people do not have
access to clean water and/or sanitation.
In Ireland we are fortunate to have abundant
supplies of water to drink, to support
industry and agriculture, and to facilitate all
the other uses that sustain our overall
quality of life. Nevertheless our freshwater
resources are coming under increased
pressures and must not be taken for
granted. The measures announced were
that:
*
regulations have been drawn up
identifying the whole national
territory of Ireland as the area for
which an action programme will be
established and applied under the
EU Nitrates Directive. The
regulations are designed to protect
water against pollution associated
with agriculture. The action
programme will provide for a range
of measures to strengthen the
application of established "good
housekeeping" rules for farming in
all areas. It will consist primarily of
measures to provide better
protection for the environment at
farm level and to monitor the effect
of these measures on farming
practices and water quality. The
action programme will be developed
over the coming months in
consultation with farming
organisations and other interested
parties
*
*
a new National Water Conservation
Programme was announced which
is designed to identify and
substantially reduce the levels of
unaccounted for water in Ireland’s
public water supply network.
Studies have shown that up to 47%
of all water produced by treatment
plants is unaccounted for and that a
very significant amount of this is lost
through leaks. The Water
Conservation Programme involves
investment of $276 million to repair
leaks and upgrade the existing
supply network. A portion of the
new allocations will be used by the
local authorities for information and
awareness campaigns designed to
highlight what individual consumers
can themselves do to reduce water
usage and demand on water
resources, and
funding of _100 million is being
made available in 2003 for
improvements to group water
schemes. 4% of households
nationally depend on group water
schemes and this investment is
intended to accelerate the provision
of treatment and disinfection
facilities to bring group water
schemes up to the highest possible
standards.
New EU Eco-label for
Tourist Accommodation
As part of the on-going development of the
EU Eco-label scheme, the Commission have
established ecological criteria for the award
of the eco-label to tourist accommodation
services (Commission Decision of 14 April,
2003). The award of the eco-label marks a
departure under the scheme from the
traditional product groups such as copying
paper, detergents and household electrical
equipment, etc, to service providers.
The European Eco-label for tourist
accommodation service was created to
reward accommodation services and tourists
that respect the environment. It signals
environmental good performance, as it
offers an added quality value to consumers
when they are choosing a holiday
destination. Enterprises bearing the EU Ecolabel flower logo have been officially
designated as being among the most
environmentally friendly in their area.
Among the range of suitable
accommodation types that are eligible to
apply for an eco-label are:
*
Hotels
*
B & Bs
*
Holiday dwellings
*
Youth hostels
*
Certain private establishments
The provision of overnight accommodation
may include the provision of food services,
fitness activities and/or green areas.
Examples of environmentally friendly tourist
accommodation activities are those which
use natural building materials, conserve
energy and other resources, have nonsmoking areas, avoid the use of hazardous
chemicals and wash linen with
environmentally friendly detergents.
Applications for an eco-label are processed
through the National Standards Authority of
Ireland (NSAI), which is the Irish national
Competent Body for the EU Eco-label. The
NSAI provides information on the application
procedure, distributes the application pack
and is responsible for the verification of
compliance prior to the awarding of the Ecolabel. The application pack comprises a
verification form and a user-manual,
designed to accompany the applicant
through the process of application.
Details on the Eco-label, including the range
of criteria that should be addressed to
qualify for an award, are available from the
following website at:
*
impacts of economic activities:
minimise the environmental impacts
of economic activities, notably
through the development of clean
technologies and by placing the
emphasis on prevention, including
the reduction of emission of gases
having a greenhouse effect
*
waste management: prevent, reuse,
recover and recycle waste of all kind
and ensure the sound management
of waste steams, and
In May 2003, the EU Commission
announced details of the EU LIFE
Environment Programme 2004. The
programme is aimed at funding innovative
demonstration projects by partnerships
involving industry, local and regional
authorities, and research establishments to
improve the environment.
*
integrated production policy: reduce
the environmental impact of
products through an integrated
approach to production, distribution,
consumption and handling at the
end of their life-time, including the
development of environmentallyfriendly products.
The EU LIFE-Environment Programme is a
financial instrument which contributes to the
development and implementation of
Community environment policy and
legislation through the support of innovative
and demonstration-type environmental
projects. Funding of eligible costs of up to
30% is available for income-generating
projects and up to 50% for other projects.
On average, eligible projects should have a
duration of 18-36 months and involved a
total cost of between E1 - E5m.
LIFE-Environment projects must set out to
test an innovative solution to an
environmental problem and lead to concrete
practical results. Projects should be highly
visible, technically and, particularly,
financially sound and incorporate provisions
for the widespread dissemination of
knowledge. The programme is not directed
at research nor at investment in existing
technology; instead, it aims at bridging the
gap between research and development
results, and the actual implementation of
technology.
http://www.eco-labeltourism.com/frameset/frameset.html
Further information:
National Standards Authority of Ireland,
Forfas, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.
tel: 01.807 3889 fax: 01.807 3838
EU LIFE-Environment
Programme 2004
The specific objective of LIFE-Environment
is to contribute to the development of
innovative and integrated techniques and
methods and to the further development of
Community environment policy. LIFEEnvironment demonstration projects should
further this objective and one of the following
specific objectives:
*
*
land use development and planning:
integrate considerations on the
environment and on sustainable
development in land-use
development and planning,
including in urban and coastal areas
water management: promote the
sustainable management of
groundwater and surface water
The European Commission carries out the
selection process with the assistance of
independent experts and in informal
consultation with the Member States. The
Commission evaluates projects strictly in
accordance with the EU Guidelines for the
LIFE-Environment Programme.
The following 9 criteria are applied during
the selection procedures:
Two eligibility criteria:
*
financial soundness of participants,
and
*
conformity with the scope of Life
Environment III, as defined in the
legislation
Five evaluation criteria:
*
coherence and quality of the
proposal, integration
*
demonstration character of the
project and dissemination of results
*
community interest and
environmental problem
*
co-operation and transferability, and
*
innovatory nature and progress.
Two bonus criteria:
*
multinational approach, and
*
job creation and SMEs.
Only projects that satisfy the two eligibility
criteria are sent on for assessment under
the evaluation criteria. Projects that score
below a given threshold in any of the five
evaluation criteria are eliminated.
Preparing a LIFE-Environment proposal can
take up to six months, so the planning of a
project should commence as early as
possible. As the Commission evaluation is
based solely on the information submitted by
applicants on the official application forms,
applicants should take great care in
completing these forms to ensure that all
relevant sections are completed in the
manner required. Applicants should be
highly focussed and strategic in their
approach to their application so that they
can show that the proposal satisfies all the
key criteria. Innovation, demonstration and
transferability are the key elements for a
successful LIFE-Environment Project, but
applicants should pay special attention to
the financial soundness requirement of
LIFE-Environment, i.e., the financial stability
of the project and all its participants.
The application guide for the LIFEEnvironment programme for 2003 is
available from the LIFE-Environment
website at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/life/envir/infopk/in
dex-en.htm.
Applications for funding under LIFEEnvironment in 2004 must be submitted to
Fionnuala O’Dwyer, Environmental
Awareness Section, Department of
Environment, Heritage & Local Government,
Custom House, Dublin 1, by 17 October,
2003.
Further information:
John Kiernan / Deirdre Kearney,
tel: 01.888 2906 fax: 01.888 2495
e-mail: john_kiernan@environ.irlgov.ie or
deirdre_kearney@environ.irlgov.ie