25 February 2000

 

NOTE TO EDITORS:

There have been many references recently in the media to the Department of the Environment (DOE) being responsible for policy and procedures which in fact now come under the Department for Regional Development (DRD).

This is very understandable, given old DOE's historic responsibility for areas such as transport, roads and water, which now come under DRD. However, it may be useful to highlight the responsibilities of new DOE and DRD for future reference.

These are as follows:

DOE

• Planning Control
• Environment and Heritage
• Protection of the Countryside
• Waste Management
• Pollution Control
• Wildlife Protection
• Local Government
• Sustainable Development
• Mineral Resources (planning aspects)
• Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA)
• Road Safety
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland (DVLNI)
• Transport Licensing and Enforcement Branch

 

DRD

• Transport Planning
• Public Transport, Buses and the NI Transport Holding Company
• Roads Service. (includes traffic calming measures)
• Rail
• Ports and Airports
• Energy (Strategic and Developmental)
• Water
• Strategic Planning

 

Thank you for giving this matter your attention.