Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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201. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects a determination to be made regarding legislation on marine protected areas; if this determination will be made over the Dail Éireann recess period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62777/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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On 12 November, Government approved the preparation of a General Scheme for the Maritime Area Planning (Marine Protected Areas) (Amendment) Bill which will amend the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021. The Bill will provide a legislative basis for the designation and effective management of marine protected areas (MPAs) in Irish waters.

This revised approach moves away from creating a third system of spatial designations in Irish waters previously proposed and, instead, aligns the marine protected area designation process with the current regulatory system for marine spatial planning. In this regard, the Maritime Area Planning (Marine Protected Areas) (Amendment) Bill will amend the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 to allow for the designation and effective management of MPAs using the Act’s existing spatial planning tool, termed Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs). This approach will provide for the key elements which will underpin effective marine protection.

Ireland has an obligation under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) to achieve and maintain good environmental status in our maritime area. Among the measures laid down by the MSFD are spatial protection measures, including area-based conservation measures like MPAs that will contribute to the achievement of good status in our marine waters. This decision and its expected legislative outcome will further enable Ireland to meet its target of protecting 30% of the maritime area in an ecologically coherent manner by 2030.