Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2024
61. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures being taking to ensure that the development of offshore energy is not located in sensitive areas that have not yet been assessed for marine protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41419/24]
View answerIn 2021, Ireland established its first national maritime spatial plan, known as the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF), and legislated to positively change the management of our seas and oceans through enactment of the Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act. The MAP Act further created the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) to manage and regulate sustainable activities within our seas and oceans.
The deployment of offshore renewable energy (ORE) is critical towards meeting Ireland’s renewable energy and legally binding objectives. This includes achieving a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the end of this decade and a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050. Accordingly, Government has established ambitious targets for the deployment of ORE, which are installed capacities of 5 gigawatts by 2030, 20 gigawatts by 2040 and 37 gigawatts by 2050.
The development of offshore renewable energy in Ireland is taking place within the overarching legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks provided by the MAP Act and the NMPF. The MAP Act provides that An Bord Pleanala shall not approve a development that would materially contravene the NMPF, save in exceptional circumstances. The MAP Act further provides that MARA must have regard to the NMPF in determining the award of Maritime Area Consents and licences.
The NMPF includes robust overarching Marine Planning Policies that apply to all marine activities or developments. In this regard, Biodiversity Policy 1 in this Plan requires that proposals that may have significant adverse impacts on species adaptation or migration, or on natural native habitat connectivity must demonstrate that they will, in order of preference and in accordance with legal requirements; Avoid, Minimise, or Mitigate these impacts.
Through this mandatory adherence to the NMPF, offshore renewable energy projects in Ireland will continue to provide for the protection of biodiversity and our marine environment.
