Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans and programmes of his Department and related State agencies which have been identified as requiring strategy environmental assessments under the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004; and the number of such assessments which have been carried out or are in progress to date. [16363/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and its Agencies are aware of the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 and its underpinning Directive. We monitor all projects and plans in order to ensure that those programmes requiring an SEA are assessed in line with the Directive. To date, no areas have been identified as requiring a Strategic Environmental Assessment.

Prior to the full introduction of the Directive, Enterprise Ireland carried out a number of experimental SEAs (or eco-audits as they were then known) on an informal basis in order to test the methodology. However, no formal SEAs have been carried out on Enterprise Ireland plans and programmes since the introduction of the Directive. Enterprise Ireland continues to monitor its work programme and planned projects to ensure that plans and programmes that require an SEA are assessed in line with the Directive and, where it is determined that a plan or programme requires a formal SEA, one will be undertaken.

IDA Ireland carries out Environmental Impact Statements, in respect of its individual developments, as required, under current Irish Planning and Development Legislation and Regulations. Having examined the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004, it is the view of IDA Ireland that these regulations do not impose any additional obligations on IDA Ireland to carry out any further assessments. Accordingly, no such assessments have been carried out to-date.

The County Enterprise Boards provide assistance, in respect of grant and management development, to micro-enterprise projects. However, they do not involve themselves in the roll-out of such projects and accordingly are not involved in the Strategic Environmental Assessment that may apply to plans which provide the framework for such projects.

Finally, the Productive Sector Operational Programme, which is managed by my Department, was eco-audited in 2003 as part of an overall Evaluation of Eco-Audit in the NDP 2000-2006.