These Regulations amend the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 in relation with Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as required by Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment insofar as the Directive relates to land use planning. The amendments concern principally: a reduction in the threshold in the case of the mandatory undertaking of an environmental assessment of specified local area plans; determination as to the need for an environmental assessment of a local area plan; expansion of the Minister s role as a designated environmental authority for the purposes of SEA; and making plans, reports and decisions more accessible for public inspection.