Strategically located on a crossing point of the Shannon in south County Leitrim, Carrick-on-Shannon is the county town and an important administrative and commercial centre for Leitrim. The town is a regionally strategic town with strong socio-economic linkages between the Border Region and Western Regions. The town is located on the N4 and the Sligo to Dublin Rail Line and therefore has major potential for development.
Carrick-on-Shannon owes much of its historical importance to the crossing point on the Shannon which dates the 16th Century. The town has a number of historical features and monuments and a rich architectural heritage with the core town designated as an Architectural Conservation Area.
The River Shannon is a significant ecological resource with important fisheries and biodiversity value. However, there are no European Sites (SAC or SPA) within the study area and the closest designated site linked to the project is Clooneen Bog SAC over 30 km downstream on the River Shannon. Sites of county importance include the Lough Drumharlow proposed NHA which is directly upstream of the town and protected under the County Development Plan. Features of local and regional importance in the general Carrick-on-Shannon area include woodland and treelines, in particular at Townparks and scattered throughout the rural area surrounding the urban centre.
The Environmental Consultant, Ryan Hanley will produce the necessary Environmental Assessments for the scheme as outlined below.
Preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) for the preferred scheme. The EIAR shall be prepared to meet the requirements set out by Directive 2014/52/EU and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the ‘Draft Guidelines on the Information to be contained in Environmental Impact Assessment Reports’ (EPA, 2017).
The purpose of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) will be to document the environment in the vicinity of the proposed scheme in an effort to quantify the possible impacts, if any on the environment.
The Environmental Consultant shall also prepare a Screening Statement for a Natura Impact Statement (NIS). The NIS Screening shall consider the likely impacts of the preferred Scheme on relevant Natura Sites. Should significant effects be identified, a Natura Impact Statement will be produced.