Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 April 2026
393. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Culture; Communications and Sport if there have been delays in any applications for subsea fibre cable applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29238/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra394. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Culture; Communications and Sport if steps have or will be taken to address any delays in the consenting process for subsea cables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29241/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 393 and 394 together.
The consenting process for subsea communication cables consists of both consents from the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) and An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP). Consents are sought directly from MARA and ACP. MARA operates under the aegis of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, while ACP operates under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Beyond providing observations to MARA during the Maritime Usage Licence application stage, my Department does not have a statutory role in the consenting process for applications.
In order to receive permission to lay a subsea cable, the process in MARA involves an applicant firstly obtaining a Maritime Usage Licence (MUL) to conduct marine environmental surveys and site investigation works. All applications are screened for Appropriate Assessment. If screened in, the application will be subject to a minimum of 30 days public consultation. MARA will aim to make its determination on a licence application within 30 days of the closing of the public consultation. Secondly, the applicant must obtain a MARA-issued Maritime Area Consent (MAC), granting the right to occupy a defined area of the sea and seabed for a designated purpose.
The applicant must then apply to ACP for planning permission to lay the cable. The MARA-issued MAC is the gateway into the planning system as MACs are required before any planning permission applications are made to ACP.
In March 2025, my Department organised a day-long seminar for civil and public servants dealing with subsea communications cables. The objectives of the workshop were to Increase the knowledge of a broad range of subsea industry topics for Irish government & regulatory participants and to share experience of practicalities of installing and repairing cables, the constraints for cables on the seabed, and the licensing and regulatory environment.
My Department understands that no application has been through the full end-to-end consenting process to date. As such it is not possible to say if delays are arising in the overall consenting process. However, my Department is supportive of any appropriate streamlining of processes across the consenting framework that would shorten timelines and provide certainty to developers. By organising outreach and education to stakeholders, officials at my Department are ensuring that the needs of subsea communication cables are fully understood.
