Meaningful engagement and collaboration with relevant stakeholders will be central to the successful development, designation and implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs) in Ireland’s maritime area.
On 12 November 2025 the Government approved the preparation of a General Scheme for the Maritime Area Planning (Marine Protected Areas) (Amendment) Bill. This Bill will amend the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 to incorporate provisions for MPA identification, designation and management, and associated engagement processes.
The Bill will build on the existing spatial planning tools, Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs), and associated proposal and extensive public participatory processes, to provide an inclusive basis for the development, designation and effective management of MPAs. This approach will facilitate Ireland meeting its target of protecting a minimum of 30% of the national maritime area by 2030.
In parallel with the development of the necessary legislation, public and stakeholder participation and engagement have taken place including through successive ecological sensitivity analyses of the western Irish Sea (2022-23) and Celtic Sea (2023-24). A third such ecological sensitivity analysis focusing on Atlantic waters is currently being established in which stakeholders will continue to be encouraged to contribute information, perspectives, feedback and data to the sensitivity analyses.
The output of all three sensitivity analyses will form an initial examination of suitable areas in Irish waters within which potential MPAs may be identified. Such suitable areas, potential MPAs or parts of them could then be taken forward to early proposal stage, and onwards if appropriate, through structured and transparent engagement and co-design processes.
In addition, the MPA LIFE Ireland project (2024-2033) coordinated by my Department is also working at a practical level to help deliver MPAs in Ireland in line with the DMAP process and the principles of public participation, co-design, co-development and co-delivery. This nine-year €25 million project co-funded by the EU will focus on the social, economic and ecological dimensions of MPA designation.
Provision has been made in the MPA LIFE project to further enable meaningful public participation and stakeholder engagement nationally and locally. In order to include all relevant stakeholders from the earliest possible stage, an extensive series of meetings, workshops and public events, supported by a dedicated communications campaign, is planned under the MPA LIFE project.
