Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
158. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the next round of the Designated Maritime Area Plan's preparation is expected to be completed; if he will consider expediting the next round with the view to include the waters off the Shannon estuary and County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18772/24]
View answerA new plan-led approach to offshore renewable energy (ORE) was adopted by Government and approved by the Oireachtas in May 2023. Central to this plan-led approach is the requirement that all post Phase One offshore wind developments in Ireland must be situated in marine areas identified for this purpose that are located within Designated Maritime Area Plans, or DMAPs.
As adopted by Government and approved by the Oireachtas, Ireland’s first ORE DMAP is to be located off the South Coast, and will identify a suitable area or areas for future deployments of fixed bottom offshore wind projects that aim to assist in delivery of our 2030 target and beyond. Fixed bottom offshore wind is a proven technology that has been delivered at scale in other jurisdictions and offers the best prospects for the accelerated delivery of future offshore wind, at an affordable cost to Irish electricity consumers.
As set out in the Public Participation Statement for the South Coast DMAP, a statutory public consultation will begin following publication of a draft DMAP by the Minister in Spring 2024. Publication of the draft DMAP will be accompanied by a draft Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and draft Appropriate Assessment (AA) that have been carried out on the draft DMAP. While the timeline for this consultation will be dependent on the publication date of the draft DMAP, it is currently expected to run from early May 2024.
A new Future Framework policy will establish an evidence-based pathway for longer term ORE developments beyond 2030, including with regard to the deployment of floating offshore wind technology in deeper waters in Ireland's maritime area. The draft Future Framework was published on 22 January 2024 for public consultation. The Future Framework will be published shortly, contingent on Government approval. This will provide a framework for the subsequent establishment of future DMAPs.
