Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 201 of 2011).

These Regulations amend the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 in relation with Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as required by Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment insofar as the Directive relates to land use planning. The amendments concern principally: a reduction in the threshold in the case of the mandatory undertaking of an environmental assessment of specified local area plans; determination as to the need for an environmental assessment of a local area plan; expansion of the Minister s role as a designated environmental authority for the purposes of SEA; and making plans, reports and decisions more accessible for public inspection.