This report has been prepared by Minogue Environmental Consulting Ltd in conjunction with JBA Ireland with all reasonable skill, care and diligence. Information report herein is based on the interpretation of data collected and has been accepted in good faith as being accurate and valid. This report is prepared for Mayo County Council and we accept no responsibility to third parties to whom this report, or any part thereof, is made known. Any such party relies on the report at their own risk SEA Environmental Report Prepared under SI 436 of 2004 as amended. Contents Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 Glossary .............................................................................................................................................................. 9 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose of this SEA Environmental Report .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Strategic Environmental Assessment ........................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Scale, nature and location of development .......................................................................................... 2 1.3.1 Outline of Draft MCDP ........................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Structure and Preparation of this Environmental Report ............................................................................. 3 1.4.1 SEA Team ............................................................................................................................................... 3 2 Methodology ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 5 2.2 Stages in the SEA Process ............................................................................................................................. 6 2.2.1 Screening ............................................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2 Scoping................................................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Baseline Data .............................................................................................................................................. 12 2.4 Approach to assessment of significant environmental impacts ................................................................. 12 2.5 Mitigation ................................................................................................................................................... 13 2.6 Monitoring .................................................................................................................................................. 13 2.7 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment ................................................................................................................. 13 2.8 Habitats Directive Assessment ................................................................................................................... 14 2.9 Data Gaps .................................................................................................................................................... 14 3 Relationship to relevant plans and programmes ............................................................................................... 15 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 15 3.2 International ............................................................................................................................................... 15 3.3 National ...................................................................................................................................................... 16 3.4 Regional and County .......................................................................................................................... 17 4 Environmental Baseline ..................................................................................................................................... 20 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 20 4.2 Overview of County Mayo. ......................................................................................................................... 20 4.3 Green Infrastructure and Ecosystem Services ............................................................................................ 21 4.3.1 Ecosystem Services .............................................................................................................................. 23 4.4 Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna...................................................................................................................... 26 4.4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 26 4.4.2 European Sites ..................................................................................................................................... 27 4.4.3 Proposed Natural Heritage Areas ........................................................................................................ 36 4.4.4 Peatlands ............................................................................................................................................. 39 4.4.5 Trees .................................................................................................................................................... 40 4.4.6 Hedgerows ........................................................................................................................................... 40 4.4.7 Ramsar Sites ........................................................................................................................................ 41 4.4.8 Wetlands .............................................................................................................................................. 42 4.4.9 Other Sites of Environmental and Ecological Importance ................................................................... 43 4.4.10 Protected Habitats and species outside of Designated Sites ............................................................. 46 4.4.11 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................................. 50 4.4.12 Biodiversity Issues and Threats in the Plan area ............................................................................... 50 4.5. Population, Human Health and Quality of Life- ......................................................................................... 52 4.5.1 Population and Demographics............................................................................................................. 52 4.5.2 An Gaeltacht and the Islands ............................................................................................................... 58 4.5.3 Human Health ...................................................................................................................................... 59 4.5.4 Human Health and access to Green and Blue Space ........................................................................... 61 4.5.5 Human Health and Noise ..................................................................................................................... 61 4.5.6 Human Health and Climate Change ..................................................................................................... 62 4.5.7 Human Health and Air Quality. ............................................................................................................ 63 4.5.8 Seveso Sites ......................................................................................................................................... 64 4.5.9 Population and Human Health – Issues and Threats. .......................................................................... 64 4.6 Water Resources including Flood Risk ........................................................................................................ 65 4.6.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 65 4.6.2 Irish River Basin District – Mayo Catchments ...................................................................................... 66 4.6.3 Groundwater ....................................................................................................................................... 69 4.6.4 Protected Bathing Waters ..................................................................................................................