Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government ( _ga. An Roinn Comhshaoil, Oidhreacht agus Rialtais Áitiúil) is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government who is assisted by three Ministers of State.

The aim of the Department is 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 in Ireland.

Departmental Team

*Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government: John Gormley, TD
**Minister of State for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas: Michael Finneran, TD
**Minister of State for Older People: Máire Hoctor, TD
**Minister of State for Local Services: Michael Kitt , TD
*Secretary General of the Department: Geraldine Tallon

Overview

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible for, amongst other matters:
*the environment
*the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland
*heritage
*local authorities and related services
*the supervision of elections including the general election and presidential elections, and electronic voting arrangements
*Met Éireann, the weather forecasting service.

The official headquarters and Ministerial offices of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government are in The Custom House, Dublin 1. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government was created at the very first meeting of Dáil Éireann in 1919. Over the years its name has changed several times, however, the role of the Department has remained the same. The Department was known as the following:
*Department of Local Government (1919–1924)
*Department of Local Government and Public Health (1924–1947)
*Department of Local Government (1947–1977)
*Department of the Environment (1977–1997)
*Department of Environment and Local Government (1997–2002)
*Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (2002–present)

External links

* [http://www.environ.ie/ Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government]