Enda Kenny
Question:42 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department have any guidelines for environmental impact assessment; and whether any legislation is planned for this area.
Written Answers. - Environmental Impact Assessment.
Provision for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is contained in Regulations that I made to implement EC Directive 85/337viz. the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Motorways) Regulations, 1988 (S.I. No. 221 of 1988), the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1989 (S.I. No. 349 of 1989) and the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1990 (S.I. No. 25 of 1990). My Department issued informal advice on EIA to local authorities, by way of circular letters, when these regulations were made. In addition, section 70 of the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, 1990, which is currently before the Dáil, provides for preparation by the agency of guidelines on the content of environmental impact statements required for EIA purposes.