The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's mission is to support the sustainable and efficient delivery of well-planned homes and effective local government. The Department works to: • ensure that planning and building in our regions and communities contributes to sustainable and balanced development • provide for a stable, sustainable supply of good quality housing • provide a framework for the sustainable management of water resources from source to sea • support and enable democratic, responsive and effective local government, effective electoral management and high quality fire services and emergency management • serve society by producing and communicating reliable weather and climate information to protect life and property and to improve Met Éireann’s role as the authoritative voice for high impact weather in Ireland The department is also responsible for: • managing the Irish State’s nature conservation responsibilities under national and European law • formulation and implementation of policy relating to Ireland’s architectural heritage • responsibility for built heritage including the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage