The ABR2 Project planning application will be supported by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and a Natura Impact Assessment (NIS). 

In addition to published datasets, the preparation of the EIAR and NIS will draw upon the environmental monitoring programme which has been in place since 2016 for the construction of the following projects at Dublin Port: 

• ABR Project, the first SID brought forward to planning from the Dublin Port Masterplan 2040, and which commenced construction in 2016; and 

• MP2 Project, the second SID brought forward to planning from the Dublin Port Masterplan 2040, and which commenced construction in 2022. 

The combined ABR Project and MP2 Project monitoring programme is comprised of: 

• Continuous noise monitoring at three locations; 

• Continuous dust monitoring at two locations; 

• Periodic vibration monitoring; 

• Continuous water quality monitoring (turbidity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity) within the inner Liffey channel at four locations (pH was added in 2023); 

• Continuous water quality monitoring (turbidity at three depths) within Dublin Bay at four locations over the period October 2017 to March 2021. This was complemented by continuous wave climate and tidal current measurements;  

• Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) for Harbour Porpoise detection at two locations within Dublin Bay over the period October 2017 to March 2021 during the ABR Project capital dredging campaigns, and one location within the inner Liffey channel from July 2022; 

• Static Acoustic Monitoring (SAM) for Harbour Porpoise detection at four locations within Dublin Bay over the period October 2017 to March 2021 during the ABR Project capital dredging campaigns, and at three locations from April 2022; 

• Records of marine mammal sightings by Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) during dredging and piling operations; 

• Benthic surveys of the licenced dumping at sea site located at the entrance to Dublin Bay; 

• Monthly seal surveys at Bull Island; 

• Lamprey surveys within the Liffey; 

• Wintering waterbird surveys within the South Dublin Bay & River Tolka Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA); 

• Tern colony surveys; 

• Black guillemot surveys; and 

• Underwater noise surveys during piling and dredging activities to validate models used to assess the impact on migratory fish and marine mammals. 

The site-specific, up-to-date scientific data collected is informing the preparation of the EIAR for the ABR2 Project. It demonstrates the depth of understanding of the environmental conditions in and around Dublin Port, including the inner Liffey channel (Dublin Harbour) and Dublin Bay, and the quality of the data underpinning that understanding. 

Additional ecological survey work was undertaken in 2025 to provide up-to-date baseline information for the environmental assessments. These include: 

• a terrestrial habitat and species survey, including otter and badger; 

• a preliminary bat roost assessment; 

• a benthic survey, including drop-down video surveys and benthic sampling and analysis; and 

•  monthly Tern surveys from April to August 2025.  

All of the above survey information, in addition to existing databases from official sources, will be used to support the environmental impact assessments detailed within specific chapters of the EIAR.