Under transition arrangements set out in the Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act 2021, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications had the powers to assess MAC applications from a first group (Phase One) of seven offshore wind projects, until the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA).
Holders of MACs must pay an annual levy to the State, and the calculation model for the levy framework applying to Phase One projects is published on the DECC website. Please see below a table setting out the total revenue collected from Phase One projects for their first year, which was invoiced for in January 2023.
|
Name
|
Year
|
Total
|
|
MAC Levy
|
2023
|
€7,249,000
|
Given the temporary role of the Minister for the Environment in collecting MAC levies for only the first year of these 45-year consents, these funds were paid to the Exchequer as Extra Exchequer Receipts.
As MARA was established in July 2023, it now has the legal responsibility to collect and administer annual MAC levies from the Phase One projects, and all future MAC holders. The Minister for the Environment can not comment on the estimated proceeds from MAC levies beyond the first payments collected in January 2023, as he has no statutory role in this matter.
