The environment and sustainability and what life was like before EIA’s, purpose and aims of EIA, appreciate the role of EIA in the decision-making process, understand the strengths of EIA in regard to environmental management, understand the technical
and social/political limitations of EIA.

EIA administration and practice in different jurisdictions, Irish planning law, EIA and SEA directives, other EU legislation, guidelines under the EPA Practices, International guidelines, format of an EIA Report (Environmental Impact Statement, or Environmental Statement).

Public risk perception, how fast information can be retrieved, coping the studies – understand the scoping process and how it is applied; Concept of associated assessment processes, key elements of the EIA process, understand the screening process, know the options for estimating environmental and social impacts.

Undertaking an EIA, stages that follow EIA, surveying, monitoring, techniques, dealing with specialists and understanding their role, evaluating their impact and valuing the receptors.

Role of public participation, dealing with the public and their input, action groups, witnesses, statutory bodies, NGO’s, oral hearing.

Ecosystems, agriculture/applied biology, human health, valuing ecological resources, European sites, habitats, species, evidence based impact prediction, the aquatic environment.

Noise, air, surface ground, waters, soils, climate, vibrations.

Social impacts EIA’s, architectural, archaeological and cultural heritage, landscape and visual impact assessment, archaeological impacts and preservation in situ, archaeological research methods and results.

Examine prior cases: Road scheme, Windfarm, Waste water treatment.

Tools, impacts, assessments, risks and health guidelines. The costs and benefits of undertaking EIA, understanding of the strengths and limitations of EIA. Appreciate the factors that assist, and detract, from the usefulness of the EIA Report. Understand the purpose of developing follow up procedures, and the options for designing these procedures.