McGlone: Over one-third of Environment legislation is overdue

SDLP Vice Chair of the Stormont Environment Committee Patsy McGlone has said over one third of the Department of Environment’s legislation is late and huge inroads need made into its backlogged programme of work.

Mr McGlone, accompanied by party colleague, John Dallat met with the Environment Minister and his Permanent Secretary to seek assurances that the programme of work will be carried out and to put on record the SDLP’s concern.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr McGlone, said:

“The Department of Environment’s programme of work for September to December 2010 has over 70 items of work, be they primary legislations, subordinate legislation or consultation documents. Out of these, 25 are currently late and awaiting approval from the minister, backlogging the efficiency of the department.

“These items have yet to be forwarded to the DOE Committee, stagnating the process whereby elected members scrutinise the work and efficiency of the department on behalf of the community. Thirty-six per cent of the current programme for work is significantly late and has yet to be acted upon by the department.

“Already this year the Northern Ireland Water debacle showed how inefficiency and mismanagement can have a disastrous effect on value for money of public funds and, ultimately, public confidence in our devolved institutions.

“Important and diverse issues such as the Landfill Regulations Bill, control of pollution and oil storage, Road Traffic Fixed Penalty Regulations, Motor Vehicles Regulations, improved powers for the Driving Vehicle Agency, a Road Safety Strategy for 2010 and improved planning regulations, are all awaiting progress even though they were due for consideration by the Department by now.

“When I was chair of the Environment Committee, only 50 per cent of the programme of work was completed during the year by the department. This is simply not acceptable and if happened in the private sector, it would not be tolerated. The public need to have confidence in the efficiency of government. Now, probably more than ever, there is a scrutiny on public value-for-money like never before.

“The Department for Environment needs to bring home the bacon on its programme of work. Inefficiency should never be tolerated and in these stringent economic times, it’s totally and utterly unacceptable.”
 

ENDS