Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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488. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he hopes to designate designated marine areas so that the planning and development of wind farms can proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13659/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 provides that I, as Minister, may designate public bodies as competent authorities for the purpose of preparing Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs). DMAPs are forward looking sub-national marine spatial plans that form part of the planning framework for the maritime area.

DMAPs provide an opportunity to align sectoral marine strategies with spatial planning while maintaining focus on the sustainable development of marine activities. In order to prepare a DMAP, a public body must first be designated as a Competent Authority by me as Minister, in accordance with Section 20 of the MAP Act 2021. It is my intention to seek to designate a number of public bodies over time, but given the Government’s September decision to prioritise Offshore Energy Development, it is anticipated that the first DMAPs will be for offshore wind.

Following designation, a proposal will be submitted to me for approval and a number of further steps (including the production of public participation statement, consultation, environmental assessment and appropriate revision) will be required before a Draft DMAP can be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The use of DMAPs will ensure that development in the maritime area  is managed in a planned, strategic and sustainable way, and provides greater certainty for all maritime users as to where development will be situated. My Department is currently working with the Department of Energy, Climate and Communications to finalise the delivery timeline for the first ORE DMAP, and I will provide that information to the House as soon as it is available.