Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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330. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide a progress report on the development of legislation to identify, designate and manage marine protected areas in the marine area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6618/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is in the process of developing stand-alone legislation to enable the identification, designation and management of marine protected areas in accordance with Ireland’s national and international commitments. This work is expected to continue for a good part of 2022.

In this regard, work is under way drawing up the General Scheme of the Bill. The target is to publish the heads of bill in Quarter 3 of this year. Dedicated resources have been assigned to the Water Division of my Department, which has responsibility in this area, and the work is progressing.