Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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195. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department carries out screening for environmental impact assessment for applications to explore for oil or gas in waters which include the use of seismic testing; if so, the procedures by which this screening is carried out; and if not, the reason therefor. [22932/18]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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196. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has carried out an environmental impact assessment for applications to explore for oil or gas in Irish waters which include the use of seismic testing. [22933/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together.

In advance of the 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round, the Irish Offshore Strategic Environmental Assessment 5 process was undertaken by my Department and included consideration of potential environmental impacts which may arise specifically as a result of petroleum exploration activities.Any exploration activity proposed to be carried out under a petroleum authorisation (e.g. seismic survey or drilling of a well) is subject to assessment of compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive.

Geophysical surveys (which include seismic surveys) do not fall under Annex I or II of the EIA Directive as amended. However, such surveys fall to be assessed under the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Petroleum Exploration) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 134/2013). An assessment is carried out based on the information included in the application to determine whether a survey would result in significant effects on the environment by virtue, inter alia, of the nature, size and location of the survey.

Applications for seismic surveys are considered against a range of technical and environmental considerations.

In respect of environmental considerations the procedures are as follows:

- The applicant must submit an Environmental Risk Assessment and a Natura Impact Screening (Appropriate Assessment) Statement in support of the application to commence surveying activities. These documentsare made available on my Department's website.

-  The Environmental Risk Assessment is reviewed for my Department by an independent consultancy, with the required expertise in ecological and conservation marine biology, to assess whether or not it meets the scope and quality of requirements set out or implied by the specific European and Irish Environmental Impact Assessment legislation and guidelines.

- The independent consultancy also reviews the Natura Impact Screening Statement to ensure that the requirements of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations, 2011 for an assessment to be carried out on any plan or project likely to have a significant effect on a protected site or species have been met. In addition, the National Parks and Wildlife Service is requested to provide its observations in terms of Natura 2000 sites, where relevant, and Annex IV species (Cetaceans) in accordance with the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).

- Following receipt of these reviews a determination is made as to whether an Environmental Impact Assessment Report or a stage 2 Appropriate Assessment is required. The determination is published on my Department's website.

Any observations received from prescribed bodies, interested parties or the general public regarding the potential environmental effects of the activity proposed in the application are considered as part of the consent decision making process.