Introduction
With the transposition of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive into Irish law*, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has been designated as an environmental authority that must, in some circumstances, be consulted by competent authorities while screening for, or conducting, an SEA. Competent authorities are those institutions with responsibility for the preparation, or modification, of specified plans and programmes (Plans or Programmes).
This document sets out how competent authorities and SEA practitioners should interact with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
Other environmental authorities designated by the regulations include the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government:- http://www.environ.ie/DOEI/DOEIPol.nsf/wvNavView/Planning?OpenDocument&Lang=#I8 and the Environmental Protection Agency:- http://www.epa.ie/TechnicalGuidanceandAdvice/StrategicEnvironmentalAssessment/
The environmental authorities need to be consulted as follows:
| Contact Details for Environmental Authorities | Consultation Necessary |
|---|---|
| Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. (See below.) | Where it appears to the competent authority that the Plans or Programmes (or modification) might have significant effects on fisheries or the marine environment. |
| Environmental Protection Agency: Tadhg O'Mahony, EPA Regional Inspectorate, Inniscarra, Co Cork. Tel: (021) 486 0818 Fax: (021) 487 5545 e-mail: t.omahony@epa.ie. | All relevant plans/programmes. |
| Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government: The Manager, Development Applications Unit, DEHLG, Dun Sceine, Harcourt Lane, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-411 7194 01-411 7113 | Where it appears to the competent authority that the Plans or Programmes (or modification) might have significant effects in relation to the architectural or archaeological heritage or to nature conservation. |
| Mr. Jim Brown, SEA Co-ordinator,Environment & Heritage Service, Northern Ireland, Commonwealth House, 35 Castle Street, Belfast BT1 1GU, Northern Ireland.Tel: (028 90) 254754. Dial 048 when calling from the Republic of Ireland. Email: jim_brown@doeni.gov.uk | Where it appears to the competent authority that the p/p (or modification) might have significant effects on the environment in Northern Ireland. |
*Note that SI 436 of 2004 covers SEA for planning and development purposes and SI 435 of 2004 covers SEA for other specified plans and programmes.
