Publication
EIA Portal: Common Queries and Disclaimer
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
The EIA Portal is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage as an electronic notification to the public of requests for development consent accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR). It is a central access point to detailed information facilitating early and effective opportunities to participate in environmental decision making procedures for such cases. The portal is a public information facility meeting the requirements of Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by 2014/52/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment.
All applications for development consent requiring environmental impact assessment (EIA) made countrywide and offshore and across all legislative codes.
Development consents requiring EIA include certain applications (and appeals) for planning permission and other forms of consent under the Planning and Development Act 2000, applications for an integrated pollution prevention and control or waste licence from the Environmental Protection Agency, applications to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government for a foreshore licence, wastewater discharge authorisation applications to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of certain agriculture developments, aquaculture licences and appeals, forestry developments, demolition of National Monuments, certain developments in relation to petroleum and gas exploration and exploitation, approvals of certain arterial drainage projects, and certain road and rail projects
The portal shows applications for development consent accompanied by an EIAR made since 16 May 2017, the date Directive 2014/52/EU became applicable. Applications prior to this date are not shown.
No. The information on the portal is limited in extent and is intended to have the sole purposes of informing the public, in a timely manner, of EIA applications and providing a link to the relevant competent authority’s website where detailed information is contained. The portal is not intended as a replacement or alternative source of information to that contained on the relevant competent authority’s website.
The portal lists all new EIA applications and the competent authority(s) to which they are submitted, the name of the applicant and a brief description of the proposal, shows the location on a GIS map and provides a URL link to the detailed information relating to the application contained on the relevant competent authority's website. The information on the portal is searchable and will accumulate over time.
While the EIA Portal gives electronic notification of all EIA applications, this does not replace other notification requirements such as public newspaper and site notices. A copy of the public newspaper notice can be accessed on the portal and should be consulted for a detailed description of the proposed development, site address and public consultation arrangements.
The primary responsibility to inform the public and to make relevant information electronically accessible to the public rests with the relevant competent authority and will be met by the publication of this information on its website. The EIA Portal is not a replacement or alternative source of information to the competent authority’s website.
The information on the EIA Portal is limited and normally comes from 2 sources. The applicant for development consent provides the information on the location and brief description of the proposed development, a copy of the public newspaper notice, and the name of the competent authority, in advance of making the application. The portal contains a downloadable form to be completed by the applicant with this information and submitted to the department, and a confirmation notice from the Portal that the information provided on this form has been uploaded to the EIA Portal must be submitted with the application for development consent to the relevant competent authority.
The information submitted by the applicant is uploaded to the portal by the department as soon as possible, and no later than 3 days after receipt of all required information. The date submitted and an Identification Code are added. A link to a copy of the public notice as supplied by the applicant is also provided. This information is visible on the portal from the time of issue of the confirmation notice to the applicant.
Upon receipt of a valid application, the competent authority provides the department with a file reference and URL link to the electronic version of the file, and this is uploaded in association with the information provided by the developer. The URL will not be visible on the portal until it is provided by the competent authority, normally approximately 1 week after the application for development consent is made.
In preparation for launch of the portal on 18/7/2018, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage sought information from all competent authorities on applications made between 16 May 2017 and the launch date. Information on applications after the launch date was received from applicants and competent authorities as outlined above.
Applications for developments at specific locations are identified by a diamond, colour coded by type of competent authority. Applications for linear developments are shown by diamonds at the end points of the proposed development, major turning points and at local authority boundary crossing points, where applicable. The information for each diamond indicates which applications are for linear developments (“Linear Development YES”).
Some proposed developments will require consent from more than one competent authority. Related applications will appear separately on the portal. In such cases, the same Identification Code will be used for related applications, to facilitate their identification.
The portal includes search functions in respect of the information it contains – project type, competent authority, locations and so on. The search functions can be operated by all users. The information on the portal will remain after the decision has been made by the competent authority.
The URL to the application on the EIA Portal is as provided by each competent authority. In some cases, the competent authority has its website structured to facilitate direct access via the URL to the front page of the application, with direct links from there to the various documents associated with the application. In other cases, the website of the competent authority is structured to bring you to a page to facilitate you locating the application. In such cases, using the search function on the competent authority’s website will bring you to the application. The file register reference number may be particularly useful to assist this search.
Intending applicants for development consent under any legislative code, where the application is to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), should click EIA Portal - here for further information.
No further information on the application is added to the Portal. Information on timelines for public consultation, arrangements for oral hearing (if any), the decision of the competent authority and time lines for appeal (if any) etc. must be obtained from the relevant competent authority. This will normally be found on competent authority’s website. The Portal does not contain information in respect of any request for additional information, which may include a revised EIAR and new public notices, and which may involve additional opportunities for public participation.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage provides the data for use "as is." The points depicted by this map/data are approximate, and are not accurate to surveying or engineering standards. The maps/data shown here are for illustration purposes only and are not suitable for site-specific decision making. Information found here should not be used for making financial or any other commitments. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage provides this information with the understanding that it is not guaranteed to be accurate, correct or complete and conclusions drawn from such information are the responsibility of the user.
While every effort will be made to ensure that correct and timely information is posted on this EIA Portal, the public are advised, in all cases, to refer to public notices and/or the relevant competent authority websites for notifications, and to the same websites for electronic access to all relevant information in respect of EIA development consent applications.
Before proceeding, please confirm you have read and understood the purpose of the EIA Portal, the scope of the information provided, that the primary source of information on all proposals is the relevant competent authority, and that you have accepted this Disclaimer.