MinisterCullen Welcomes Publication Of His Departments strategy

22/05/2003

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Minister Cullen Welcomes The Publication Of His Department's Statement Of Strategy

Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D., Minister for the Environment and Local Government, today (22 May) welcomed the publication of his Department's Statement of Strategy 2003 – 2005.

"My Department's most fundamental responsibility is to provide leadership within Government for the sustainable development agenda" said the Minister. "Arising from the Department's renewed and enhanced environmental mandate, the Department's mission statement - to promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life through protection of the environment and heritage, infrastructure provision, balanced regional development and good local government - has been redefined to embrace this mandate and to place this mandate in a broad sustainable development context" added the Minister.

This Statement addresses the challenges which face the Department over the next 3 years. It sets out objectives and strategies that will be pursued by the Department in its core functional areas of environment, heritage, planning, local government, housing, and supporting the provision of infrastructure and local services. It also addresses the implementation of the Statement by outlining proposals for resourcing and managing the Department and improving customer service including eGovernment, better regulation and improving coordination.

The Minister said "the new Statement reflects Government priorities, as set out in the Agreed Programme for Government, including the implementation of an ambitious environmental programme and ensuring balanced regional development through the implementation of the National Spatial Strategy". He added "we are also committed to the agenda set for us in Sustaining Progress which provides for special initiatives on affordable housing and waste management".

"The Department has a traditional and longstanding involvement with mechanisms of democracy and consultation, through its responsibilities for local government, and electoral arrangements, as well as for planning and environmental legislation. We must ensure that these processes operate fairly and efficiently, and where appropriate with benefit of e-government enhancements" he continued.

The Minister concluded that "in all of its business, my Department will seek to deliver a quality service to its customers, and to adopt progressive public service management practices in line with Governmen