Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Section 20 amends the Planning and Development Act 2000 by inserting three new sections 176A, 176B and 176C into that Act relating to environmental impact assessment screening. For the purpose of further implementing EU Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, this section allows for a determination in advance of making a planning application as to whether an environmental assessment is required. This involves screening for an environmental impact assessment in respect of a proposed development of a class specified in regulations made under section 176 of the 2000 Act. The chapter also provides for EIA screening in respect of appropriate assessments, also required under the EU directive, to be carried out at the same time.

This section followed a conversation with the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Seán Canney, who is trying to streamline the planning and approval process for many of the flood relief projects that are needed in different parts of the country. The question of whether an environmental impact assessment is actually required depends on the environmental complexity of the project and if it is not necessary we need to move ahead and get permission without having to go through what can be a lengthy EIA process. It is a practical measure and, in the same way as I am trying to get housing moving, the Minister of State is trying to get flood relief projects, to which we have allocated a lot of money, to move through the system.