CLIENT:
Cork City Council
PROJECT NAME:
Appropriate Assessment Screening Report
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background This is the Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening Report for modifications to the Cork City Council (CCC) Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy (referred to as ‘the Strategy’). The national Climate Action Plan 2024 has set targets for a 50% reduction in transport emissions by 2030. This includes a 20% reduction in total vehicle kilometres, a reduction in fuel usage, and significant increases to sustainable transport trips and modal share. It acknowledges that fleet electrification and use of biofuels will provide the greatest share of emissions abatement in the medium term, requiring 30% of the private car fleet to be electrified by 2030. The CAP supports regional and local authorities with the development of EV Network Plans, and that these plans should be aligned with the adopted national Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2025. 1.2 Strategy-development Process to Date A draft version of the Strategy was prepared. This document was accompanied by an AA Screening Report which identified any potential significant affects to European sites from a project or plan, either alone or in combination with other projects or plans This AA process was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Habitats Directive 1 and transposing national legislation. AA Screening concluded that the Draft Strategy would not give rise to any adverse effects on designated European sites, alone or in combination with other plans or projects. Consequently, a Stage 2 AA was not required for the Draft Strategy. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was also undertaken on the Draft Strategy in accordance with the requirements of the SEA Directive 2 and transposing national legislation. A Draft SEA Environmental Report which considered the effects of the Draft Strategy on the environment was therefore prepared also. A period of consultation has been undertaken in relation to the Draft Strategy and the Draft SEA Environmental Report. Statutory environmental authorities, interested stakeholders and members of the public were invited to make submissions in connection with the Draft Strategy and the associated Draft SEA Environmental Report. All submissions made on this documentation have been reviewed by CCC. These submissions were taken into consideration prior to finalisation of the Strategy. CCC have prepared a Chief Executive Report on the submissions received. This document details the submissions received, CCC responses to the submissions, and Strategy modifications arising following consideration of the submissions. 1.3 Purpose of this Assessment An AA Screening Assessment must be carried out on all modifications made to the Draft Strategy following consideration of submissions. The purpose of this assessment is to identify whether the Strategy modifications will result in additional effects on European sites not previously considered in the AA process to date, and to inform whether or not a full AA is required on the Strategy modifications. This AA Screening Assessment considers changes to the binding ‘Proposals’ defined within the Strategy.
1 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. 2 Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment
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