Foreword by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Together with my colleagues Ministers Batt O'Keeffe, Tony Killeen and Máire Hoctor, I am pleased to accept delivery of my Department’s combined Annual Report 2007 and Annual Output Statement (AOS).
2007 represented a busy and challenging, yet very productive year, for the Department. The Annual Report and Annual Output Statement provide a snapshot of the extensive range of issues that we have engaged with, and are a good record of the many milestones achieved in pursuing our sustainable development mandate. Importantly, they also highlight the range of issues that will continue to be high on our agenda over the time ahead.
During 2007, there was increasing scientific, political and economic consensus on the cause of global warming and the need for immediate and sustained programmes of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Following the publication of the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 in the first half of the year, and the emphasis I placed on an ambitious climate change policy under the new Programme for Government, I attached a very high importance to the new climate change awareness campaign we launched in November and to the first ever carbon budget which I introduced in December. I am particularly pleased that we have quickly brought forward new initiatives in relation to energy efficiency and CO2 emissions reductions in new dwellings, energy efficiency standards for lighting, and a rebalanced motor tax system. These are essential building blocks towards a more intensive response across society to the threat posed by climate change.
Protecting our environment and promoting greater appreciation and awareness of our built and natural heritage are among my key priorities in Government. In this regard, we provided considerable financial support during the year to improve both water and waste infrastructure, and we have introduced significant new regulatory and enforcement provisions to protect water quality. Importantly, we are moving quickly to undertake the major international review of waste management best practice announced in the Programme for Government so that waste and resource policy can be further developed in a sustainable manner.
Our major new policy statement on housing Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, sets the agenda for housing into the medium term. Although overall housing output declined in 2007, the rate of output remains well ahead of most other countries. Increased investment in social housing meant that some 8,800 housing units were completed/acquired on the local authority and voluntary and co-operative housing programmes – an increase of 38% on 2006. Very positively, two new Regeneration Agencies were put in place in Limerick to drive the economic and physical development of Moyross and Southill/Ballinacurra Weston.
Our major new policy statement on housing Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, sets the agenda for housing into the medium term. Although overall housing output declined in 2007, the rate of output remains well ahead of most other countries. Increased investment in social housing meant that some 8,800 housing units were completed/acquired on the local authority and voluntary and co-operative housing programmes – an increase of 38% on 2006. Very positively, two new Regeneration Agencies were put in place in Limerick to drive the economic and physical development of Moyross and Southill/Ballinacurra Weston.
The Department’s support for community and social development is also reflected in our lead role in progressing the National Spatial Strategy and the Developing Areas initiative, and our leadership of the local government reform agenda. The policies and initiatives that these involve are at the heart of building regionally balanced, sustainable and participative communities, and the progress made in these areas during 2007 provides a solid foundation for progress over the Government term.
On behalf of my Ministerial colleagues and on my own behalf, I wish to thank all the staff of the Department, our partner bodies and the local authorities with whom we work so closely, for their hard work and commitment throughout 2007.
John Gormley, T.D.
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government