Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:1129. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the National Strategic Environmental Assessment for Energy will be completed. [22216/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 9 June 2015
Ceisteanna (1129)
Freagraí scríofa
There are a number of Strategic Environmental Assessments which are either completed or at various stages of completion in relation to the energy sector. To ensure that the economic potential of offshore renewable energy is realised in a way that is environmentally sustainable, and takes into account the needs of other users of the marine environment, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was completed for the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP). The OREDP, and the documentation relating to the SEA, are on my Department's website at www.dcenr.gov.ie.
Separately my Department is in the process of assessing responses to its recent request for tenders for the provision of services to assist in the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment (AA), which will inform the content of the finalised Bioenergy Plan to be published later this year. The SEA/AA process, which will include a public consultation, will be managed by my Department and overseen by the Bioenergy Steering Group, which has been established to coordinate the implementation of the Draft Bioenergy Plan.
My Department is also preparing a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework, which is to be underpinned by a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment. The proposed Framework will be completed in early 2016, and will be a high level strategic policy, which is intended for the guidance of persons seeking development consent primarily in relation to large scale renewable electricity projects, as well as for the guidance of planning authorities, statutory authorities and the public. The next stage of public consultation will commence in the coming weeks with the publication of the Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report.
The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government issued a request for tenders for the provision of Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment services for the development of the National Mitigation Plan setting out Ireland’s first statutory low carbon development strategy for the period to 2050. Sectoral Mitigation Plans are to be drafted for the four relevant sectors, including energy, and then incorporated into the National Mitigation Plans. The tenders are currently being assessed by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and it is understood that this process will be completed shortly.