Constraints Study
The project team have completed the Constraints Study. As part of the Constraints study, a walkover survey was undertaken on 27 and 28 May to identify and map features of interest from an environmental perspective and to inform the ecological baseline assessment of the study area. The preliminary walkover survey, at this early stage, allows consideration of any significant ecological constraints to the project design and to scope future specialist surveys. The walkover survey had particular regard for protected habitats and species, including habitats/species listed in Annex I, II and IV of the EU Habitats Directive, protected species under the Wildlife Act and rare flora listed in the Flora Protection Order. The survey further considered the presence of invasive plant and animal species along with semi-natural habitats of conservational value. The survey identified semi-natural wet grassland habitats with high species diversity along the Atlantic Stream and the need for further surveys for otter and breeding birds specifically in parts of the Victoria Stream where the channel has been overgrown by dense scrub vegetation.
Environmental Assessment
The Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) will be prepared as part of Stage 1 of the scheme. It will fulfil the requirements set out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the ‘Guidelines on the Information to be contained in Environmental Impact Statements’ (EPA, 2017) which outline the transposed requirement of the European EIA Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU, and in the consolidated Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2018. The Report also references the ‘Guidelines for Planning Authorities and An Bord Pleanála on carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment’, published by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in August 2018. When completed, the Report will be put on public display and will be available on this website.
The purpose of the EIAR is to document the environment in the vicinity of the proposed development site in an effort to quantify the possible impacts, on the environment. The assessment process served to highlight areas where mitigation measures may be necessary in order to avoid and reduce any potential impacts on the surrounding environment as a result of the proposed development. The objective is to facilitate the most efficient and positive design of the proposed scheme insofar as possible and to ensure that measures are in place to ensure that any adverse impacts are avoided, reduced or compensated for, as appropriate.
The environmental assessment process will be ongoing throughout the planning and design of the project. Information gathered or alternatives suggested arising from public information days, meetings with stakeholders and written representations are considered on the grounds of engineering feasibility, environmental viability, existing constraints and economics.
Appropriate Assessment
The Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) will be prepared as part of Stage 1 of the scheme. It will fulfil the requirements set out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the ‘Guidelines on the Information to be contained in Environmental Impact Statements’ (EPA, 2017) which outline the transposed requirement of the European EIA Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU, and in the consolidated Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2018. The Report also references the ‘Guidelines for Planning Authorities and An Bord Pleanála on carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment’, published by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in August 2018. When completed, the Report will be put on public display and will be available on this website.
The purpose of the EIAR is to document the environment in the vicinity of the proposed development site in an effort to quantify the possible impacts, on the environment. The assessment process served to highlight areas where mitigation measures may be necessary in order to avoid and reduce any potential impacts on the surrounding environment as a result of the proposed development. The objective is to facilitate the most efficient and positive design of the proposed scheme insofar as possible and to ensure that measures are in place to ensure that any adverse impacts are avoided, reduced or compensated for, as appropriate.
The environmental assessment process will be ongoing throughout the planning and design of the project. Information gathered or alternatives suggested arising from public information days, meetings with stakeholders and written representations are considered on the grounds of engineering feasibility, environmental viability, existing constraints and economics.
