Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2019
674. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an environmental impact assessment must be undertaken as part of the application for licence and-or prior to commencement of harvesting upon licence being granted in the context of large scale mechanical harvesting of seaweed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21977/19]
View answerThe Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 2014/52/EU applies to a wide range of projects – the annexes to this Directive specify what types of projects are mandatory vs. discretionary, in terms of the requirement to conduct an EIA. In the area of seaweed harvesting projects, it is not a mandatory requirement to conduct an EIA.
The decision as to whether an EIA is required is made through the "screening procedure". The procedural process, with information on the screening procedure and EIA, is available on my Department's website at https://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/applying-consent/consent-process-explained.
