Allen wants local environment funding

Cash must be made available to tackle to local authorities if the new Office of Environmental

Enforcement is to succeed, Fine Gael's Bernard Allen said today.

"The new national watchdog will be able to impose fines on local authorities for not enforcing environmental regulations. Therefore the Government must ensure fair play for local authorities by making the necessary resources available so that prevention and enforcement are the key principles," said Deputy Allen.

"We cannot have a situation where local authorities are penalised because the Government has

failed to provide the resources to enforce the regulations."