Having regard to the requirements of Article 15C of the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004, the Border Regional Authority considers it necessary to continue on-going consultation throughout the SEA Process in the preparation of the revised Regional Planning Guidelines. Given the enhanced role that has been afforded to Regional Planning Guidelines through the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009, the Border Regional Authority is keen to gather a wide range of views in relation to the scope of SEA and its input into the Guidelines.

The Scoping Report is the first major step in the SEA process and identifies the key environmental issues within, and adjoining the Border Region. The Border Regional Authority invites you to make comments on the Scoping Report.

Comments may be made in writing up to and including 11th September 2009, to:-

Regional Planning Guidelines Team
Border Regional Authority
Corlurgan Business Park,
Ballinagh Road,
Cavan,
County Cavan

Alternatively, a submission may also be made by e-mailing rpg@border.ie

Following receipt of comments, the Border Regional Authority will consider and assess all relevant issues raised through consultation. The findings will be documented in the Environmental Report.

It is anticipated that the Draft Guidelines, Environmental Report and Habitats Directive Assessment Report will be put on public display during the fourth quarter of 2009. All environmental authorities and the general public will be given a further opportunity to make submissions and observations on the Environmental Report during the relevant consultation period.

The Environmental Report will consider any likely significant environmental impacts that may occur in the implementation of the Regional Planning Guidelines. The Report will take into account and include the following:-

(i) current knowledge and methods of assessment,

(ii) the contents and level of detail of the guidelines,

(iii) the stage of the guidelines in the decision-making process, and

(iv) the extent to which certain matters are more appropriately assessed at different levels in the decision-making process in order to avoid duplication of environmental assessment.