Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2013
338. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has given any consideration to any potential means of alleviating the financial burden placed on those who are required to prepare EIS/ EIA in order to comply with planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52856/13]
View answerThe requirement on a developer to submit to the competent authority information in relation to the likely impacts on the environment of a proposed development arises from the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (codified Directive 2011/92/EU). Article 5 of the Directive requires the developer to submit the information specified in Annex IV of the Directive relating to the specific characteristics of a particular project and it s likely environmental impacts.
In October 2012 the European Commission brought forward proposals for an amended EIA Directive, intended to streamline the current Directive, and to ensure - among other things - that unnecessary environmental impact assessments are eliminated through a more comprehensive screening process, and that only information directly relevant to the project need be supplied by the developer. The proposals for an amended EIA Directive are currently the subject of negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament. If and when the amending Directive is adopted, any necessary consequential changes to Irish planning legislation and guidelines will be made.
