4. Statutory Consultation

Pre-Draft consultation took place in July 2014 with the Environmental Authorities.  Feedback was received from the Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and from the Environmental Protection Agency.  This information was used in the formulation of this report (attached in Appendix B). 

In accordance with the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2001-2013, the specified environmental and planning authorities that shall be consulted, as appropriate, are:

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• The Minister of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DoECLG)
• Where it appears that the plan might have significant effects in relation to the architectural or archaeological heritage or to nature conservation, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht.
• Where it appears that the plan might have significant effects on fisheries or the marine environment, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. 
• Any adjoining planning authority whose area is contiguous to the area of the planning authority which prepared the plan.

In this case, the environmental authorities that will be consulted under Article 14A(4)(b) of the Regulations are:

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• The Minister of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DoECLG)
• The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (DAHG). 
• The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.