Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Finance if the current or proposed new national development plans have been, or will be assessed under the guidelines for strategic environmental assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30454/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to a strategic environmental assessment under the EU strategic environmental assessment directive (2001/42/EC).

In the case of the National Development Plan 2000-2006, the issue does not arise as the strategic environmental assessment directive only applies to a plan or programmes where the preparation was commenced on or after 21 July 2004. The next NDP, for 2007-2013, will be a financial plan. It is accordingly considered that it does not fall within the framework of the directive and it will not therefore be subject to a formal SEA.

The Government has, however, indicated that environmental sustainability will be a key horizontal objective of the investment strategy of the next NDP and consultation on this aspect with environmental interests will take place in the context of drafting the plan.