Ireland’s 2025 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Conference was a first of its kind event enabling over 130 professionals involved in the process to freely gather and discuss enhancing the tool. The conference’s theme Effective EIA for Our Renewable Energy Goals highlighted the key role the assessment tool plays in helping influence the design and inform the consenting for such projects.
The day was attended by Government departments, statutory consultees, consenting authorities (both An Bord Pleanála and over 10 councils), developers, academics, consultants, NGOs, sector bodies and wider stakeholders.
The conference was developed as a partnership between FOTHERGILL Training & Consulting, Green Tech Skillnet and the Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy, with Josh Fothergill curating the conference program and Chairing delivery on the day itself.
You can access and download all the presentations from the conference below, plus the agenda and also a summary of feedback from the discussions held on the breakout workshops on Improving the Scoping (separate PDF file) and Making EIA Reports Proportionate (integrated within the facilitator slide deck)
Opening Plenary
Effective EIA – Challenge and Opportunity
- Josh Fothergill (Chair) – Fothergill Training & Consulting Ltd. | Access the day’s agenda here
- Paul O’Neill – Department for Environment, Climate and Communication | Download Neil’s PPT: Renewable Energy Challenge
- Caroline Donnelly – SSE Renewables | Download Caroline’s PPT: What is Effective EIA?
Morning Plenary
Inspiring EIA – Learning from our Neighbours
- Jo Wotton – LUC | Download Jo’s PPT: Scottish action on Proportionate EIA
- Brian Gorman – Department for Infrastructure, NI | Download Brian’s PPT: EIA knowledge in Northern Ireland
DHLGH Briefing
Future EIA Legislation
- Lisa Clifford
- Maryann Harris
Both: Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage | Download Lisa and Maryann’s PPT: DHLGH Briefing on Future EIA Legislation
Workshop: Improving EIA
Enhancing the value of EIA Scoping
Facilitators:
- Paul Scott – National Parks & Wildlife Service
- Elaine Dromey – FuturEnergy Ireland
Download Workshop Facilitator PPT | Download Summary of Workshop Discussions
Proportionate EIA Reports
Facilitators:
- Josh Fothergill – Fothergill Training & Consulting Ltd
- Jo Wotton – LUC
Download Workshop Facilitator PPT including Slido Summary of Delegate Discussions
Closing Plenary
EIA and Renewable Energy
- Dr John Staunton – Tobin | Download John’s PPT: EIA & Onshore Wind Projects
- Ellen MacMahon – GoBe, part of the APEM Group | Download Ellen’s PPT: EIA & Offshore Wind Projects
- Mark Ruane – Green Tech Skillnet + Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy | Learn More about GTS + SOWA’s EIA Capacity Building
