Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a systematic process by which environmental considerations are required to be fully integrated into the preparation of Plans and Programmes and prior to their final adoption. The objectives of the SEA process are to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to promote sustainable development by contributing to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of specified Plans and Programmes relating to 11 specific sectors: agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, industry, transport, waste management, water management, telecommunications, tourism, planning/land use.

The legislative support for SEA derives from the European SEA Directive (2001/42/EC), and the national requirements for SEA are specified in Regulations S.I. No.s 435 of 2004, 436 of 2004, 200 of 2011 and 201 of 2011.  The new amending Regulations in 2011 provide for a reduction in the mandatory population threshold for Local Area Plans from 10,000 to 5,000 persons and/or those covering an area in excess of 50 km². 

The steps involved in SEA are: i) screening to determine if the SEA process is necessary, ii) scoping to determine the range of environmental issues to be covered by the SEA, iii) the preparation of an environmental report, iv) conducting a consultation process with stakeholders, v) the integration of environmental considerations into the Plan or Programme, vi) publication of the SEA Statement.

More information on the Strategic Environmental Assessment process can be found here:

https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/assessment/strategic-environmental-assessment/