The SEA Directive - Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment - requires that an environmental assessment is carried out of certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment.
Eleven sectors are specified in the SEA Directive. Competent Authorities (plan/programme makers) must subject specific plans and programmes within these sectors to an environmental assessment where they are likely to have significant effects on the environment.
Examples of key sectoral national and regional plans are shown below. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and serves only to indicate suggested key plans to be aware of when preparing SEAs.
| Sector | Plan Name |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Food Vision 2030, National Rural Development Programme |
| Forestry | National Forestry Programme, |
| Fisheries | Seafood Development Programme, National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture |
| Energy | Grid 25 Implementation Plan, Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan |
| Industry | Shannon Foynes Port Company Masterplan, Dublin Port Company Masterplan |
| Transport | Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy, National Policy Framework for Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport, Metropolitan Area Transport Plans |
| Waste management | National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy |
| Water management | River Basin Management Plan for Ireland, Water Services Strategic Plan, draft National Water Resources Plan, National CFRAMS Programme, Lead in Drinking Water Mitigation Plan |
| Telecommunications | National Broadband Plan |
| Town and Country Planning or Land use | National Planning Framework - Ireland 2040, Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies |
| Tourism | Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, Ireland's Ancient East |
| Other Key Plans (examples) | National Peatland Strategy, National (Climate) Adaptation Framework, National Landscape Strategy, National Biodiversity Action Plan |
Circular Letter CEPP 05/2025 was recently issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It notifies relevant authorities of the commencement of the new SEA Regulations, the revocation and transitional arrangements in place prior to the revocation commencing for S.I. No. 436 of 2004, as amended.
In Ireland, the SEA Directive has been transposed into national legislation through:
S.I. No. 435 of 2004 (European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004, as amended by S.I. No. 463 of 2025 European Union (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) (Amendment) Regulations 2005).
S.I. No. 436 of 2004 (Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004, as amended by S.I. No. 201 of 2011 (Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011).
S.I. No. 456 of 2025 (European Union (Land Use Planning-Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations) were signed on the 2nd October 2025 by Minister James Browne T.D., Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. These Regulations will revoke S.I. No. 436 of 2004, as amended, upon commencement of Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024.