Governance and implementation Regarding governance and implementation considerations, the Strategy should clearly set out the implementation arrangements and governance structures, including lines of responsibility for implementation and delivery as well as provisions for interim review and progress reporting. The relationship between the Strategy, the National Planning Framework and the Southern Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy should be clarified. Implications of the Strategy in the context of existing Local Authority plans/programmes should also be clarified (e.g. will these be required to be reviewed and updated?). Synergies with key national plans It will be important that the Strategy documents the synergies between it and other key national plans, The relevant actions of the National Climate Action Plan and the objectives and policy commitments of the National Planning Framework, River Basin Management Plan, and the Southern Regional Spatial and Economic should be aligned with and considered, as appropriate. The EPA may provide additional comments on the SEA Environmental Report and the Strategy at the next stage of the SEA process. The appendix to this letter includes comments to consider in preparing the SEA. Integration of the SEA and the Strategy The integration of the SEA process into the Strategy should reflect the overall objective of the SEA Directive “to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes”. It is key that the SEA acknowledges the complex and cross cutting nature of climate and biodiversity issues and includes targets and measures, where relevant and appropriate, that can tackle Ireland’s climate crisis and our biodiversity emergency as part of an integrated approach to tackling environmental problems. All recommendations from the SEA and AA processes, including mitigation measures and monitoring proposals, should be integrated into the Strategy. We recommend that the Strategy includes summary tables outlining the key findings of the SEA and linking the significant environmental effects identified to the proposed mitigation measures, monitoring programme and Strategy policies/measures. Fully integrating the findings and recommendations of the SEA into the Strategy will be key to strengthening its overall positive commitments while ensuring that any potential significant adverse effects of implementing the Strategy are mitigated. The SEA Environmental Report and the Strategy should include a chapter outlining how the recommendations and mitigation measures from the SEA have been incorporated into the Strategy. We recommend that the SEA Environmental Report includes summary tables outlining the key findings of the SEA and linking the significant environmental
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