Trevor Sargent
Question:93 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment who the ERU will be consulting in its research on EIA.
Written Answers. - Environmental Impact Statements.
The Environmental Research Unit of my Department (ERU) monitors on an ongoing basis the numbers of environmental impact statements submitted to competent authorities and carries out research in relation to various aspects of environmental impact assessment from time to time.
The research into the quality of environmental impact statements carried out in association with the ERU was conducted by reference to a procedure for the review of such statements developed by the University of Manchester. This research has been completed and the results will be published in due course. The methodology for any further research related to environmental impact assessment which the ERU may carry out would primarily be a matter for the Unit.