177U.—(1) A screening for appropriate F908[assessment of a draft Land use plan or application for consent for proposed development] shall be carried out by the competent authority to assess, in view of best scientific knowledge, if that Land use plan or proposed development, individually or in combination with another plan or project is likely to have a significant effect on the European site.

(2) A competent authority shall carry out a screening for appropriate assessment under subsection (1) before—

(a) a Land use plan is made including, where appropriate, before a decision on appeal in relation to a draft strategic development zone is made, or

(b) consent for a proposed development is given.

(3) In carrying out screening for appropriate assessment of a proposed development a F908[competent authority] may request such information from the applicant as it may consider necessary to enable it to carry out that screening, and may consult with such persons as it considers appropriate F909[and where the applicant does not provide the information within the period specified, or any further period as may be specified by the authority, the application for consent for the proposed development shall be deemed to be withdrawn].

(4) The competent authority shall determine that an appropriate assessment of a draft Land use plan or a proposed development, as the case may be, is required if it cannot be excluded, on the basis of objective information, that the draft Land use plan or proposed development, individually or in combination with other plans or projects, will have a significant effect on a European site.

(5) The competent authority shall determine that an appropriate assessment of a draft Land use plan or a proposed development, as the case may be, is not required if it can be excluded, on the basis of objective information, that the draft Land use plan or proposed development, individually or in combination with other plans or projects, will have a significant effect on a European site.

(6) (a) Where, in relation to a proposed development, a competent authority makes a determination that an appropriate assessment is required, the competent authority shall give notice of the determination, including reasons for the determination of the competent authority, to the following—

(i) the applicant,

(ii) if appropriate, any person who made submissions or observations in relation to the application to the competent authority, or

(iii) if appropriate, any party to an appeal or referral.

(b) Where a competent authority has determined that an appropriate assessment is required in respect of a proposed development it may direct in the notice issued under paragraph (a) that a Natura impact statement is required.

F909[(c) Paragraph (a) shall not apply in a case where the application for consent for the proposed development was accompanied by a Natura impact statement.]

F908[(7) A competent authority shall, as soon as may be after making the Land use plan or making a decision in relation to the application for consent for proposed development, make available for inspection by members of the public during office hours at the officesof the authority, and may also publish on the internet—

(a) any determination that it makes in relation to a draft Land use plan under subsection (4) or (5) as the case may be, and reasons for that determination, and

(b) any notice that it issues under subsection (6) in relation to a proposed development.]

F908[(8) In this section "consent for proposed development" means, as appropriate—

(a) a grant of permission,

(b) a decision of the Board to grant permission on a planning application or an appeal,

(c) consent for development under Part IX,

(d) approval for development that may be carried out by a local authority under Part X or Part XAB or development that may be carried out under Part XI,

(e) approval for development on the foreshore under Part XV,

(f) approval for development under section 43 of the Act of 2001,

(g) approval for development under section 51 of the Roads Act 1993, F910[…]

(h) a substitute consent under F911[Part XA, or]]

F912[(i) a decision to make a requested alteration under subsection (2) of section 297.]

(9) In deciding upon F908[a declaration or a referral under section 5] of this Act a planning authority or the Board, as the case may be, shall where appropriate, conduct a screening for appropriate assessment in accordance with the provisions of this section.]

F913[(10) In deciding upon an application under section 176A or a determination review or an application referral under section 176C, a planning authority or the Board, as the case may be, shall, where appropriate, conduct a screening for appropriate assessment in accordance with the provisions of this section.]