STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT FOR THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME 2015-2019 for: Fáilte Ireland 88-95 Amiens Street Dublin 1 by: CAAS Ltd. 2nd Floor, The Courtyard, 25 Great Strand Street, Dublin 1 AUGUST 2015 Includes Ordnance Survey Ireland data reproduced under OSi Licence Number AR0077413. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Ordnance Survey Ireland and Government of Ireland copyright. © Ordnance Survey Ireland SEA Environmental Report for the Wild Atlantic Way Operational Programme Table of Contents List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................v Glossary ...................................................................................................................vi Section 1 SEA Introduction and Background ..................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction and Terms of Reference ........................................................................... 1 1.2 SEA Definition ............................................................................................................ 1 1.3 SEA Directive and its transposition into Irish Law .......................................................... 1 1.4 Implications for the Programme and Fáilte Ireland ........................................................ 1 Section 2 The Operational Programme .............................................................. 3 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Background and Context ............................................................................................. 3 2.3 Programme Area and Route ........................................................................................ 7 2.4 Route Development .................................................................................................... 7 2.5 Wild Atlantic Way Vision and Goals .............................................................................. 8 2.6 Relationship with other relevant Plans and Programmes ...............................................10 Section 3 SEA Methodology ............................................................................. 28 3.1 Introduction to the Iterative Approach ........................................................................28 3.2 Appropriate Assessment and Integrated Biodiversity Impact Assessment ........................30 3.3 Decision to Undertake SEA .........................................................................................30 3.4 Scoping ....................................................................................................................34 3.5 Environmental Report ................................................................................................34 3.6 SEA Statement ..........................................................................................................35 3.7 Difficulties Encountered .............................................................................................35 Section 4 Relevant aspects of the current state of the Environment .............. 37 4.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................37 4.2 Likely Evolution of the Environment in the Absence of a new Programme ....................... 37 4.3 Biodiversity and Flora and Fauna ................................................................................38 4.4 Population and Human Health ....................................................................................47 4.5 Soil .......................................................................................................................... 47 4.6 Water .......................................................................................................................48 4.7 Air and Climatic Factors .............................................................................................56 4.8 Material Assets ..........................................................................................................57 4.9 Cultural Heritage .......................................................................................................61 4.10 Landscape ................................................................................................................66 Section 5 Strategic Environmental Objectives ................................................ 70 5.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................70 5.2 Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna ......................................................................................70 5.3 Population and Human Health ....................................................................................73 5.4 Soil .......................................................................................................................... 74 5.5 Water .......................................................................................................................74 5.6 Air and Climatic Factors .............................................................................................77 5.7 Material Assets ..........................................................................................................77 5.8 Cultural Heritage .......................................................................................................79 CAAS for Fáilte Ireland i SEA Environmental Report for the Wild Atlantic Way Operational Programme 5.9 Landscape ................................................................................................................80 Section 6 Description of Alternatives .............................................................. 82 6.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................82 6.2 Rational for Alternative Development ..........................................................................82 6.3 Alternatives ..............................................................................................................82 Section 7 Evaluation of Alternatives ................................................................ 84 7.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................84 7.2 Methodology .............................................................................................................84 7.3 Cumulative Effects .....................................................................................................86 7.4 Detailed Evaluation of Alternatives ..............................................................................88 Section 8 Evaluation of Programme Provisions ............................................... 97 8.1 Overall Findings (including Transboundary) .................................................................97 8.2 Methodology .............................................................................................................97 8.3 Appropriate Assessment ........................................................................................... 100 8.4 Residual Non-Significant Adverse Effects ................................................................... 100 8.5 Interrelationship between Environmental Components ................................................ 101 8.6 Regional Assessment ............................................................................................... 103 8.7 Detailed Evaluation of Operational Programme Provisions ........................................... 105 Section 9 Mitigation Measures ....................................................................... 122 9.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 122 9.2 Engagement by Fáilte Ireland ................................................................................... 122 9.3 Consultation with Environmental Authorities .............................................................. 122 9.4 Early Consideration of Alternatives ............................................................................ 122 9.5 Iterative Approach to Preparation of the Operational Programme ................................ 123 9.6 Detailed Monitoring Strategy and Guidelines for Local Authorities ................................ 124 Section 10 Monitoring Measures ..................................................................... 130 10.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 130 10.2 Updating Monitoring Measures ................................................................................. 130 10.3 Indicators and Targets ............................................................................................. 130 10.4 Sources .................................................................................................................. 131 10.5 Reporting ............................................................................................................... 131 10.6 Thresholds and Corrective Action .............................................................................. 131 Section 11 SEA Summary Table ......................................................................