Public consultation on scoping report for the Environmental Assessment of the emerging Draft Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining in Ireland

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) is currently preparing a Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining in Ireland. This Policy Statement seeks to underline the importance of mineral exploration and mining and the role that they can play in:

• Ireland’s and the European Union’s transition to the circular economy and net–zero greenhouse gas emissions
• supporting primary and secondary economic activity and associated jobs creation and
• progressing many of our national, European, and international policies and commitments

Strategic Environmental Assessment

As part of this process, the emerging draft Policy Statement was screened for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) under the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 (as amended). It was determined that SEA is required for the emerging Draft Policy Statement and the SEA Screening Determination can be found here.

DECC has procured external consultants to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the likely significant effects on the environment of the emerging draft Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining.

The next stage in the SEA process is Scoping for the Environment Report, which involves determining the scope, level of detail and range of environmental issues to be covered by the SEA. A SEA Scoping Report has been prepared by the consultants for consultation with the environmental authorities.

At the same time as consultation with the environmental authorities, submissions on the SEA Scoping Report are being sought from the wider public as part of a non-statutory consultation.

Questions on the Scoping Report include:

1. Based on the plans, policies and programmes outlined in the SEA Scoping Report, are there any other key relevant international, national or regional plans, policies or programmes that should be considered in the SEA Environmental Report on the Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining?

2. Based on the likely significant impacts outlined above, are there any other effects or impacts that should be considered in the SEA Environmental Report on the Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining?

3. Do you have any comments regarding the draft SEA Objectives presented in the Scoping Report?

4. Do you have any suggestions or comments in relation to the overall approach to alternatives?

Stakeholders were invited to make a submission on the SEA Scoping Report by 5.30pm on 21 June 2021.

Appropriate Assessment

In parallel with the SEA Screening, the emerging draft Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining in Ireland was also screened for Appropriate Assessment under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (as amended). The AA Screening Determination is available here.

Next Stage of Public Consultation

The submissions received as part of this SEA Scoping consultation will inform the preparation of

• an Environmental Report (ER) for the SEA process
• a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) for the AA process and
• DECC will integrate the SEA/AA findings into a draft Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining in Ireland

When these three documents are prepared, they will be published for public consultation on gov.ie.

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. All submissions and feedback will be considered as part of the preparation of the Environmental Report, Natura Impact Statement and draft Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining in Ireland.

Please note that responses to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI), Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2014 (AIE) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Please also note that the Department may publish the contents of all submissions received to this consultation on its website. The Department will redact personal data prior to publication. In responding to this consultation, parties should clearly indicate where their responses contain personal information, commercially sensitive information or confidential information which they would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published.

We would like to draw your attention to the Department's Data Privacy Notice which is available on our website and explains how and when we collect personal data, why we do so and how we treat this information. It also explains your rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how you can exercise those rights.

A total of 21 submissions were received as part of this consultation representing public bodies, industry bodies, eNGOs and individuals. Each of these submissions are published below.

A summary of responses has also been prepared and can be accessed here.

Industry / Group / Organisation Submissions

Individual Submissions

The submissions received as part of this SEA Scoping consultation have been reviewed and will inform the preparation of

• an Environmental Report (ER) for the SEA process,
• a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) for the AA process and
• DECC will integrate the SEA/AA findings into a draft Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining in Ireland.

When these three documents are prepared, they will be published for public consultation on gov.ie.