(1) A Minister of the Government may designate in writing a project for which he or she has general responsibility or in relation to which he or she performs any function (in this Part referred to as a "designated environmental project"), where he or she is satisfied that the project contributes directly or indirectly, or is likely to so contribute, to -

(a) the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the State,

(b) the achievement of environmental objectives for surface waters (within the meaning of the Regulations of 2009) established under Regulation 28 of those Regulations,

(c) the achievement of the environmental objective referred to in Regulation 29 of the Regulations of 2009 as applied in the case of a body of surface water (within the meaning of those Regulations) in accordance with the said Regulation 29,

(d) the achievement of the environmental objectives referred to in Regulation 31 of the Regulations of 2009 as applied in the case of a surface water body (within the meaning of those Regulations) in accordance with the said Regulation 31,

(e) the implementation of a programme of measures pursuant to Regulation 4 of the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 9 of 2010),