Environmental Planning and Legislation

FAO Applicants Resident in Ireland: Springboard+ Funding

This course has been funded under the Irish Government’s ‘Springboard+’ programme, for more information on the fee structure please head to the Springboard+ website here. To be eligible you need to be:

• Resident in Ireland - either with a valid social welfare claim in place for unemployed people; or, for employed people, proof of having been resident here for 3 out of last 5 years.
• Non-EU Irish residents must have ‘Stamp 4’ residency immigration status or above in order to be eligible.
• Recent Graduates of full-time level 8 degree programmes are not eligible for Springboard+ funding for one year after graduation date but may apply as fee-paying students.
• The funding is not open to people who are not resident in Ireland. Please see further information on Springboard+ eligibility.
• The Springboard+ application closing date is Thursday, 24 September 2026.

What is this Programme about?

Validated by SETU, the Level 7, 10 credit, Special Purpose Award Certificate in Environmental and Planning Legislation is offered as a blend of online (Topics 1, 5) / on site (Topics 2, 3, 4) delivery.

The programme will commence in September and the on site delivery, in conjunction with the Local Authorities, will take place in the five regional training centres located in Cork, Dublin, Mayo, Donegal and Tipperary.

Programme details

The principle aim of this programme is to provide a minimum competency for personnel who are responsible for compliance with, and regulation of the following EU Environmental Directives in their area of work:

• Environmental Impact Assessment Directive
• Habitats Framework Directive
• Water Framework Directive.

Enhancing this skills-set will ensure the proper monitoring, inspections and protection of the environment, as well as the better integration of environmental issues in the planning, design and delivery of public projects within the sector.

The Programme will expand the knowledge of learners in order to equip them with the requisite knowledge and competencies to effectively operate within a planning, housing, roads, community and environment function.

Applications are welcomed from those employed by the Local Authority as:

• Planners
• Scientists (various)
• Engineers
• Administrators
• Community and Economic Development staff.

This programme will be delivered using a hybrid approach which is a learner-centred process involving digital, printed, live and recorded class activities and facilitated by SETU Carlow's virtual learning environment Blackboard collaborate. The structured manner will facilitate students in their learning process to reach programme and module learning objectives. Learners will also be required to complete project work in order to achieve certification.

Attendance at each of the topic days is mandatory.

Who is this Programme for?

The primary target learner groups are those employed by the Local Authority in the following areas with a role impacted by Environmental and Planning Legislation:

• Roads
• Planning
• Housing
• Environment
• Water Services

Online Support

Students will have full access to a range of supports available online and through Blackboard, our virtual learning environment. These include our new online programme, PACE, which is designed to support students to access and effectively use library resources in order to complete assignments. Additional supports include an Academic Writing Centre and Maths Support Centre, freely available to all students.

Programme approved for CPD purposes by the Irish Planning Institute: 15 IPI CPD credits