Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, I welcome this opportunity to seek the support of Senators for Ireland's first forward spatial plan for offshore renewable energy. The draft designated maritime area plan, DMAP, identifies four maritime areas for accelerated and sustainable development of offshore wind off the south coast of Ireland over the next decade. If approved by the Oireachtas, this will represent a landmark event in forward spatial planning in this country. It will signal a fundamental change in how we manage and plan our extensive maritime area.

Protecting the marine environment and biodiversity while supporting citizens who are reliant on the sea for their livelihoods has been central to the creation of this draft plan. It has also been established in co-operation with local communities along the south coast through extensive, wide-reaching and effective consultation. By providing a long-term source of secure indigenous green energy, the south coast DMAP and similar future spatial plans for areas around our coasts will ensure that we in Ireland continue to play our part in addressing the escalating global climate emergency. It is a further response to the twin challenges of energy security and affordability. It will spur regional development and economic opportunities along the south coast and throughout the wider economy.

The motion is the culmination of a successful programme of legislative and policy achievements over the last four years to establish a robust framework for offshore renewable energy development in Ireland. In 2021, Ireland established its first national maritime spatial plan, known as the national maritime planning framework, the NMPF, and legislated to positively change the management of our seas and oceans through the enactment of the Maritime Area Planning Act. This Act created the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority to manage and regulate sustainable activities within our seas and oceans. A further pivotal moment in our clean energy transitions was signalled by the result of Ireland's first offshore wind auction in 2023. This auction procured more than 3,000 MW of potential future offshore wind capacity, enough to power 2.5 million Irish homes with green, secure and affordable energy. To capture the full associated economic opportunities, Powering Prosperity: Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy was published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment last March. This ambitious strategy puts the development of offshore renewables at the heart of Ireland's economic growth in the years and decades to come. To co-ordinate and drive the effective delivery of this new sector in Ireland, an all-of-government offshore wind delivery task force was established in 2022. This is successfully mobilising our society to capture this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

Last year, a new plan-led approach to offshore renewable development was adopted by Government with the overwhelming support of the Oireachtas. Members of this House informed Government that they no longer wanted a developer-led system and that the designation of appropriate development areas should be led by the State. This decision determines that future offshore wind projects should be located within DMAPs. We have listened and reacted, and the preparation of the DMAP for the south coast gives effect to this decision. It will also align Ireland with similar plan-led approaches in other European jurisdictions, including the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK, the leading global practitioners in offshore wind.We are fortunate to have already legislated for this approach through the Maritime Area Planning Act. I thank Senators for their leadership in having the foresight to ensure the legislative and regulatory system was in place.

Through evidence-based analysis, the draft DMAP identified four maritime areas for sustainable deployment of fixed offshore wind off the coasts of counties Waterford and Wexford over the coming decade. This includes a maritime area known as Tonn Nua, which is identified for a 900 MW project to be built by the winner of Ireland's second offshore wind auction. This will commence next year, with terms and conditions to be published following adoption of this DMAP. This first offshore wind project will contribute to the wider objective that 80% of our electricity needs will come from renewable sources by the end of this decade.

Fixed offshore wind projects located in the additional three maritime areas will deploy beyond this decade to deliver on our legally binding commitment to achieve a carbon neutral economy no later than 2050. These projects will also bolster the energy security of Ireland, safeguarding the electricity needs of our homes, hospitals and businesses. While the preparation of this draft plan has been led by officials from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, it has been developed as a collaborative cross-government plan supported by expert environmental and technical analysis. It has been further informed by robust environmental assessments and prevents development taking place in those areas of greatest sensitivity. Crucially, the draft DMAP has been shaped by wide-reaching engagement with local coastal communities and key stakeholders. This continuous engagement has been facilitated through full-time, locally based fishing and community liaison officers. I am pleased to say that the overwhelming sentiment during consultation from people living in these areas was positive. There was an eagerness to capture opportunities that can be accrued locally by this new industry, for this and future generations to benefit from. Maximising opportunities for successful coexistence with other marine users has been a core objective throughout the process. Local fishers have accordingly been extensively consulted over the past 12 months and have positively shaped the preparation of this DMAP.

The new plan-led approach adopted by Government will deliver certainty to coastal communities and existing maritime users. It will also bring certainty to Ireland's burgeoning offshore wind industry, the investment decisions of which will accelerate decarbonisation of our society and our economy. In that regard, the clear evidence from other jurisdictions illustrates the transformative economic impacts arising from offshore wind supply chain development. Independent analysis on the south coast DMAP highlights that a significant majority of these opportunities in the form of inward investment and sustainable job creation will accrue directly to counties Cork, Waterford and Wexford. This plan will be a harbinger of regional development, economic opportunity and societal gain. While the motion before Senators today is the south coast's opportunity, it is critical that this will be followed by other DMAPs over the coming years and future DMAPs must and will focus on emerging floating technology, notably off our western seaboard.

Approval of the motion will give effect to the plan-led approach to offshore renewable development in Ireland supported by this House in May 2023. The subject matter of the motion is of strategic national importance.