Publication
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a process for the formal, systematic evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of implementing a plan or programme, before a decision is made to adopt the plan or programme.
SEA aims to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans with a view to promoting sustainable development.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of plans and programmes is required by European Directive 2001/42/EC (‘the SEA Directive’). For a specific range of land-use plans, this Directive is transposed into Irish law by Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 436 of 2004 (the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004), as amended by S.I. No. 201 of 2011 (the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011).
For all other plans and programmes in Ireland (including other types of plans in the land-use planning sector), the SEA Directive is transposed into Irish law by S.I. No. 435 of 2004 (the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004), as amended by S.I. No. 200 of 2011 (the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) (Amendment) Regulations 2011). SEA is undertaken by a wide range of public authorities who are responsible for preparing plans and programmes.
Specific “environmental authorities” are consulted by a plan/programme maker during certain stages in the SEA process. The public are also consulted and given an opportunity to provide comments when the “Environmental Report” is published alongside a draft plan or programme. There are also requirements to make certain notices and the final decision of adopting the plan or programme available to the public.
The EU SEA Directive requires that the plan-maker consults “environmental authorities” during specific stages in the overall SEA process.
These stages include:
For clarification, the following environmental authorities are required to be consulted under the following legislation:
Under S.I. 435 of 2004, as amended, SEA may be required for all sectoral plans, including land use plans (except for those specific land use plans covered by SI 436 of 2004, as amended)
The following environmental authorities must be consulted, where appropriate:
Under S.I. 436 of 2004, as amended, SEA may be required for certain specified land-use plans. The following environmental authorities must be consulted, where appropriate:
These contact details are correct as of 12 September 2022.
| Environmental Authority (S.I. 435 of 2004, as amended) | Email Address | Postal Address |
| Environmental Protection Agency - For all plans and programmes | sea@epa.ie | Environmental Protection Agency, Johnstown Castle Estate, County Wexford |
| Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage , Development Applications Unit - where there might be significant effects on nature conservation, archaeology (terrestrial and underwater) and built heritage | manager.DAU@npws.gov.ie | The Manager, Development Applications Unit (DAU) , Government Offices ,Newtown Road ,Wexford ,Y35 AP90 |
| Department of Environment, Climate and Communications where there might be significant effects on climate or inland fisheries | PlanningNotifications@decc.gov.ie | Planning Advisory Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Third Floor, 29 – 31 Adelaide Road,Dublin 2 |
| Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine - where there might be significant effects on sea fisheries or the marine environment | Environmental_Co-ordination@agriculture.gov.ie | Environmental Co-Ordination, Climate Change & Bioenergy Policy Division, Dept. of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Pavilion A, Grattan Business Centre, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32 K857 |
| Environmental Authority (S.I. 436 of 2004, as amended) | Email Address | Postal Address |
| Environmental Protection Agency - For all plans listed S.I. 436 of 2004, as amended | sea@epa.ie | Environmental Protection Agency, Johnstown Castle Estate, County Wexford |
| Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage , - For all plans listed S.I. 436 of 2004, as amended | sea@housing.gov.ie | EU and International Planning Regulation Unit Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Custom House, Dublin, D01 W6X0 |
| Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage , Development Applications Unit - where there might be significant effects on nature conservation, archaeology (terrestrial and underwater) and built heritage | manager.DAU@npws.gov.ie | The Manager,Development Applications Unit (DAU) , Government Offices ,Newtown Road ,Wexford ,Y35 AP90 |
| Department of Environment, Climate and Communications where there might be significant effects on climate or inland fisheries | PlanningNotifications@decc.gov.ie | Planning Advisory Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Third Floor, 29 – 31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2 D02 X285 |
| Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine - where there might be significant effects on sea fisheries or the marine environment | Environmental_Co-ordination@agriculture.gov.ie | Environmental Co-Ordination, Climate Change & Bioenergy Policy Division, Dept. of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Pavilion A, Grattan Business Centre, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32 K857 |
| Any adjoining planning authority whose area is contiguous to the area of the planning authority | Various | Various |