Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 603 and 606 together.

My Department is currently focused on updating the legislation underpinning marine planning decision making, giving cross-government priority to the drafting of the Marine Area Planning (MAP) Bill (formerly the Marine Planning and Development Bill). The MAP Bill seeks to establish in law a new regime for the maritime area which will replace existing State and development consent regimes, making the system straight-forward for applicants while retaining a strong emphasis on environmental assessment and public participation.

The MAP Bill will provide for an improved, centrally-led and planned approach to development of Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) in Ireland’s maritime area in future. With regards to the location of ORE projects or proposals, the forthcoming National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) will not set out spatial designations for future activities, including ORE. Arrangements are being made at present to include provisions in the Maritime Area Planning Bill to provide for a system of detailed forward planning, including spatial designations, for specified areas. In this way the Bill in itself does not set out a minimum distance offshore windfarms have to be located away from the coastline, rather it sets out the process through which decisions for site designation will be made.

With regards to the planning of ORE, the published Programme for Government has committed to achieving 5GW capacity in offshore wind by 2030 off Ireland’s Eastern and Southern coasts. In addition the Programme for Government commits to production of a longer term plan setting out how we will harness the potential of at least 30GW of offshore floating wind power in our deeper waters in the Atlantic. This level of ambition and pace of development is vital to achieve reliable supply of safe, secure and clean energy to facilitate the increased electrification of heat and transport. My Department also recognises that this must be planned and delivered in a way that protects the marine environment.

My Department, working with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and other stakeholders, will develop statutory marine planning guidelines to support best practice throughout the planning process for offshore renewable energy, including the development of a specific visualisation assessment in relation to design and layout of proposed developments. These guidelines will, inter alia, provide that where a development consent is applied for in an area already subject to permission, proposals must include a visualisation assessment to inform design and layout. Visualisation assessments must demonstrate consultation with communities that may be able to view any future ORE development at a given site with the aim of minimising impact.

Visualisation assessments will be informed by specific emerging guidance but in absence of this, should include elements identified in related policy and good practice. The NMPF policy on Seascape and Landscape outlined on Page 81 of the draft NMPF provides further affirmation that impacts on Seascape and Landscape of any proposed marine development must be considered. This states:

‘’Proposals should demonstrate how the impacts of a development on the seascape and landscape of an area have been considered. The proposal will only be supported if they demonstrate that they will, in order of preference: (a) avoid, (b) minimise, or (c) mitigate significant adverse impacts on the seascape and landscape of the area. If it is not possible to mitigate significant adverse impacts, the public benefits for proceeding with the proposal that outweigh significant adverse impacts on the seascape and landscape of the area and its significance must be demonstrated.’’

To further specifically address visual impacts in relation to ORE, ORE Policy 9 of the draft NMPF states:

''A permission for ORE must be informed by inclusion of a visualisation assessment that supports conditions on any development in relation to design and layout. Where a development consent is applied for in an area already subject to permission, proposals must include a visualisation assessment to inform design and layout''

In relation to the wider importance of our Seascapes, the Marine Institute has recently published the draft Seascape Character Assessment for Ireland, which remained open for consultation until Friday, October 30th 2020. The public feedback gathered by my Department will inform Ireland's Seascape Character Assessment Report, which is a key technical study for Ireland's National Marine Planning Framework, and provide a baseline to better inform the planning and management of our seascapes. In turn, the Seascape Character Assessment Report will also inform the emerging Marine Planning guidance, which will be issued to ORE developers in due course.