Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
524. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans that are in place to assist Clare County Council in recruiting marine planners to deal with planning applications for offshore renewable energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63992/22]
View answerSection 279 of the Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act 2021 extends the functional area of the coastal planning authorities to include the nearshore, that is the area between the high water mark and 3 nautical miles. Applications for development, excluding development listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Planning and Development Act, will be submitted to the coastal planning authorities.
The MAP Act specifies classes of development, an application for which shall be submitted directly to An Bord Pleanála. This is in accordance with Section 285 and Schedule 10 of the Act. The classes of development identified in Schedule 10 (which inserts the Eighth Schedule into the Planning and Development Act) include:
- an installation for the production of energy by harnessing the power of wind that has – (a) more than 5 turbines, or (b) a total output of more than 5 megawatts;
- any floating or fixed installation (either temporary or permanent) for the production of energy by harnessing the power of the sun;
- an installation for the production of energy by harnessing wave or tidal power that has a total output greater than 5 generating units or 5 megawatts.
The number of offshore renewable energy projects that will be submitted to coastal planning authorities for assessment is, therefore, limited.
Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. However, with regard to the implementation of the new maritime area planning regime, my Department has engaged in meetings with coastal planning authorities during 2022, most recently in November last. My Department has also had an initial discussion with the Irish Planning Institute and third-level bodies on the broader topic of addressing the growing demand for marine planners.
I understand that the County and City Management Association (CCMA) is setting up a Coastal Planning Authority sub-group to deal directly with marine issues. My Department will be working closely with that sub-group over the coming months.
