Publication
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Portal - Information
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
The EIA Portal is an online map-based website that provides users with access to applications for development consent accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report made since 16 May 2017. All applications for consent made under the relevant legislative codes, including applications for offshore developments, are included on the Portal.
The EIA Portal website can be accessed at EIA Portal.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a key instrument of EU environmental policy. The primary purpose of the EIA Directive (Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by 2014/52/EU) is to ensure that public and private projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment are granted development consent only after an assessment of the likely significant environmental effects of those projects has been carried out i.e. an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
An EIA is conducted on the basis of the appropriate information supplied by the developer (an Environmental Impact Assessment Report), which may be supplemented by the authorities and by the public likely to be concerned by the project in question. Public participation is an important part of the assessment process and it is open to any person to express opinions or concerns about a particular project, for consideration as part of the decision making process.
In order to ensure effective participation of the public in the decision-making, the EIA Directive requires electronic notification to the public of applications for development consent that are subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The EIA Portal is a central point for notification to the public on all applications for development consent that are subject to an EIA, including development, works or activities, made across the country and under the various legislative codes. The EIA Portal also provides access to these applications and provides a link to the relevant information and documents associated with the application held by the relevant authorities responsible for approving such applications (known as competent authorities). The EIA Portal facilitates an early and effective opportunity for any person to participate in the decision making procedures where EIA is required.
The EIA Portal shows information on applications for development consent subject to EIA made to relevant competent authorities since 16 May 2017. In order to ensure that that information on all applications requiring EIA is maintained on the EIA Portal, applicants for development consent subject to EIA are required under various legislative codes to notify the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage about the application, at or before the start of consultations required under the EIA process. Any information received by the department is uploaded to the EIA Portal within 3 working days.
The EIA Portal identifies, on a map, the location of each application for development consent accompanied by an EIAR. It also lists the name of the applicant, the type of development proposed and the competent authority to which the application is made. The newspaper notice relating to the application will also be provided on the EIA Portal.
A link to information on an application on the competent authority’s website will be made available after the application has been received by the relevant competent authority.
The information on the EIA Portal is limited for the purposes of providing initial and early notification of proposed projects requiring EIA across the country. The detailed information on the application, including documents e.g. maps, reports etc., the public participation process and the progress to the decision stage, and any appeal, will be found on the website of the competent authority.
