27.—(1) The Department, after consultation with other Northern Ireland departments, shall consult the public where it proposes to prepare, modify or review an air quality plan or a short-term action plan.
(2) Where paragraph (1) applies, the Department, after consultation with other Northern Ireland departments, shall—
(a)inform the public as to the proposal, any relevant background information and the right of the public to participate in the drawing up of the plan;
(b)specify the means by which the public can participate in the consultation, including an address for responses, and a reasonable timescale for the consultation; and
(c)take account of the results of the consultation in drawing up the plan.
(3) When the plan is published, the Department, after consultation with other Northern Ireland departments, shall also provide information to the public as to the reasons for the contents of the plan together with information about the public participation process that has been carried out.