The deadline for submissions under the environmental ‘scoping report’ consultation for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan is today (Tuesday, April 13).
The public consultation on the draft scoping report for the environmental assessment of the government’s Strategic Plan for the next CAP was originally opened on February 18.
‘Scoping’, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, is the process of determining the range and level of detail of the environmental issues to be considered for the assessment.
The department has been working on developing the Strategic Plan for CAP for a number of months.
The European Commission is aiming to provide more leeway to member states in how they formulate their individual CAP programmes, as long as they meet certain overarching goals in relation to the environment.
For this reason, each member state is required to draft and submit their own Strategic Plans for the commission to sign-off on.
The department has procured the services of advisory firm RSM Ireland Limited to carry out an environmental assessment.
The consultation on the scoping report for this consultation was carried out in tandem with talks with environmental authorities.
Those making submissions to the consultation were advised to consider the following questions:
- Are there other plans or programmes that should be identified and reviewed as part of the strategic environmental assessment process?
- Is there additional information that needs to be considered as part of the baseline data?
- Do you consider that the range of issues covered is appropriate?
- Are there any changes that in your consideration should be made: a), to the proposed environmental objectives; and b), to the guide questions including the consideration of alternatives?
- Do you have further suggestions regarding the scope of the strategic environmental assessment and its proposed assessment of the CAP Strategic Plan?
For more information on the consultation, including how to make a submission, click here.