Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
381. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the marine protected areas Bill 2023 will be published, given this legislation was initially promised for July 2023; the reason for the repeated delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6120/24]
View answer382. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what measures, or necessary resources, have been put in place in order to begin implementation of the marine protected areas Bill 2023 as soon as it has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6121/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 381 and 382 together.
The general scheme of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Bill was published in December 2022. Following the scrutiny of the Joint Oireachtas Committee, my Department has been working in close collaboration with parliamentary drafters to develop this Bill. While it was initially hoped to publish in 2023, the legal, technical and scientific complexity associated with this ground breaking legislation has meant that drafting has taken longer than anticipated. However, drafting is now at an advanced stage and I expect that it will be ready for publication this quarter.
A financial memorandum will accompany this Bill which will outline the resources necessary for implementation of this legislation.
My Department has been successful in obtaining EU LIFE funding of €15 million to aid in developing our network of MPAs between now and 2030. The State will add €10 million in matched funding for this LIFE project for a total of €25 million between now and 2030. The Project will ensure the co-design, development and roll out of Marine Protected Areas as well as effective ecosystem-based management.
To support the designation of MPAs once the Bill is enacted, my Department has already committed just under €650,000 from existing resources to undertake sensitivity analyses of both the Irish and Celtic Seas. The aim of these studies is to identify possible suitable areas for potential MPAs in the Irish and Celtic Seas, as well as developing methods and standards of best practice when identifying such sites. The Irish Sea sensitivity analysis was completed and published on 19 June 2023 and the Celtic Sea analysis is currently being undertaken with the expert group due to present their report to my Department by the end of April.
Any additional MPA implementation and enforcement cost estimates will be identified and included in the financial memorandum that will be associated with the Bill on its Publication.
