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Guidance on Appropriate Assessment for Planning Authorities

DoEHLG (2009) Appropriate Assessment of Plans & Projects - Guidance for Planning Authorities PDF_icon [1MB]

Read the Ministers Speech - Appropriate Assessment guidance launch PDF_icon [24KB]

 

Queries and comments should be addressed to:

Peter Carvill,
Legislation Unit,
National Parks and Wildlife Service,
7 Ely Place,
Dublin 2.
or by e-mail to peter.carvill@environ.ie

 

Background

This guidance, prepared jointly by the NPWS and Planning Divisions of DEHLG, with input from local authorities, sets out the different steps and stages that are needed in establishing whether a plan or project can be implemented without damaging a Natura 2000 site. It indicates the role to be played by professional ecologists and other professionals in identifying and assessing potential impacts. It is intended that planning authorities should follow this guidance.

It addresses issues of mitigation and avoidance of impacts, and also the Article 6.4 derogation provisions in circumstances in which there are no alternatives and there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest requiring a plan or project to proceed.

Comments and suggestions are welcome from local authorities and State agencies, from ecology and planning professionals, from the environmental non-Government organisations, and from other interested members of the public. We will particularly welcome relevant case studies that help to highlight the different types of issues that arise in the Appropriate Assessment process.

Readers may observe a degree of repetition in the Guidance. This is intentional, as the document is intended for reference.

REVISION NOTES - 11 February 2010: “Statement for Appropriate Assessment” replaced by “Natura Impact Statement” or NIS.

Marine Natura Impact Statements in Irish Special Areas of Conservation - A Working Document

Download Marine Assessment Working Document

This document has the status of a working document.  It does not represent finalised departmental guidance.

It has been prepared by technical personnel within the Department who review and provide advice in relation to development applications within the statutory consultation process.

In releasing this document, the Department envisages that relevant stakeholders involved in the preparation of Natura Impact Statements would benefit from some insight into the likely considerations of the Department’s technical personnel for appropriate assessment purposes.

The Department would welcome any constructive technical feedback to offshore@ahg.gov.ie.

The folllowing Circulars have been issued by NPWS as guidance on implementation of the Regulations: