Strategic Environmental Assessment, Appropriate Assessment and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Services for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Description

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is currently preparing a Planning Land Use and Transport Outlook (PLUTO) document. The objective of this work is to develop an investment framework that will underpin the land transport element of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027, and over the longer term will provide a strategic framework for decision-making on the appropriate quantum and type of public expenditure on land transport in light of the National Policy Objectives established in the National Planning Framework (NPF). The output from PLUTO will be a high level strategic report, similar to the previous Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport (SFILT) published in 2015, that makes the case for future investment in land transport in the context of Project Ireland 2040. Arising from this programme of work, D/TTAS proposes to engage a consultant to undertake the following: 1) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the draft PLUTO framework; 2) Screening for Appropriate Assessment (AA) of the draft; 3) Subject to the results of the screening exercise, to undertake a full AA; 4) Screening for Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA); 5) Subject to the results of the screening exercise, to undertake a full SFRA. The key role of the SEA is to identify, describe and assess the likely significant effects on the environment of the implementation of PLUTO. The SEA process will help to ensure that environmental concerns can be adequately integrated into the decision making and implementation process. The key role of the AA (if deemed necessary following a screening exercise) is to provide an impact assessment of the implications PLUTO may have on conservation objectives of Natura 2000 sites and the development, if necessary, of mitigation measures. The key role of the SFRA (if deemed necessary following a screening exercise) is to ensure that flood risk assessment and management is a key consideration in the design and implementation of PLUTO.