Impact assessment research in Ireland and Spain: An overview of current trends and future directions

Incorporation of impact assessment in undergraduate academic curricula has remained underdeveloped in both Ireland and Spain, with the subject commonly narrowed down to a general introduction to impact assessment legislation and procedural stages supported by a number of illustrative case studies. This approach is often transferred to postgraduate level, with a limited number of Masters programmes including impact assessment as a subject, and fewer being dedicated to impact assessment alone. This, in turn, has resulted in limited research in the area and more importantly, in very few academic research publications. At Master's level, research has mainly focused on the quality of EISs (often focusing on controversial sectors such as wind energy or mining) and public participation related issues. At the doctorate level, a limited number of EIA/SEA related PhD dissertations can be found, and the range of issues covered is quite varied and sparse. The largest drivers for SEA research are government initiatives and research calls. This commonly translates into publication of extensive normative guidance on EIA, SEA and Appropriate Assessment, as well as on current practice review reports and good practice recommendations. Relevant dissemination activities can also be found in Ireland and Spain, including provision of platforms for knowledge exchange and learning on impact assessment methods and tool. More efforts and funding are however needed to promote empirical academic research, and thereby advance impact assessment research and practice in relevant sectors and areas, including impact assessment theory and governance, public participation effectiveness, cumulative effects assessment or environmental limits.