Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 NM): 39 787 km²
- Exclusive Economic Zone: 388 988 km²
Technical resources related to MSP
- MarinePlan.ie
- Ireland’s Open Data Portal
- Marine Institute Data Catalogue
- Atlas.Marine.ie
- National Marine Planning Framework Baseline Report
- Towards a Marine Spatial Plan for Ireland
- Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth: An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland
- Enablers Task Force on Marine Spatial Planning
- Ireland’s Marine Atlas
- Marine Data Catalogue
- Ireland’s Ocean Economy, 2023
- Ocean Economy Dashboard
Relevant MSP projects
- Improved transdisciplinary science for effective ecosystem-based maritime spatial planning and conservation in European Seas (Marine Plan) (2022-2025)
- SIMAtlantic – Supporting the Implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning in the Atlantic (2019-2021)
- CLIP – Coastal Landscape and Inclusive Planning (2017)
- Navigate Project
- SIMCelt – Supporting Implementation of MSP in the Celtic Seas (2015-2018)
- MSP projects funded under the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (2014-2020)
- National Marine Research Database
- Ocean Knowledge 2030 – Ireland’s Strategy for Marine Research, Knowledge & Innovation, 2025-2030
- Regions to boost National Maritime Spatial Planning(Regina-MSP)
- Development of a Cumulative Effects Assessment Framework for Ireland’s Marine Planning Process
- MarinePlan – Improved transdisciplinary science for effective ecosystem-based maritime spatial planning and conservation in European Seas
Current status of MSP
Name of the plan |
National Marine Planning Framework |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
2021 |
Size of planning area in km2
|
467 106 km² |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage(DHLGH) (in 2024 the authority changed from DHLGH to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC)) |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Underway |
Plan review
|
N/A |
MSP Typology |
|
|---|---|
Scale (1 = Local / 2 = Sub-national / 3 = National)
|
National |
Scope (1 = Coastal Zone / 2 = Coastal and Marine / 3 = Marine)
|
Coastal and Marine |
Purpose (1 = Strategic / 2 = Zoning / 3 = Comprehensive)
|
Comprehensive |
Political commitment (1 = Informal / 2 = Executive decision / 3= Legal statute)
|
Legal statute |
Implementation framework (1 = Guiding / 2 = Legally binding)
|
Legally binding |
Main objectives (1 = Biodiversity conservation / 2 = Economic development / 3 = Multiple objectives)
|
Multiple objectives |
Spatial allocation (1 = Limited / 2 = Partial allocation / 3 =Detailed allocation)
|
Partial allocation |
Stakeholders involved (1 = Limited / 2 = Key sectors / 3 =Sectors & Public)
|
Sectors & Public |
Participatory process (1 = Informative / 2 = Consultative / 3 =Collaborative)
|
Collaborative |
Funding (1= Government / 2 = Public-Private / 3 = Grants)
|
Government |
Name of the plan |
South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy (SC-DMAP) |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
2024 |
Size of planning area in km2
|
8 813 km² |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Underway |
Plan review
|
N/A |
MSP Typology |
|
|---|---|
Scale (1 = Local / 2 = Sub-national / 3 = National)
|
Sub-national |
Scope (1 = Coastal Zone / 2 = Coastal and Marine / 3 = Marine)
|
Coastal and Marine |
Purpose (1 = Strategic / 2 = Zoning / 3 = Comprehensive)
|
Comprehensive |
Political commitment (1 = Informal / 2 = Executive decision / 3= Legal statute)
|
Legal statute |
Implementation framework (1 = Guiding / 2 = Legally binding)
|
Legally binding |
Main objectives (1 = Biodiversity conservation / 2 = Economic development / 3 = Multiple objectives)
|
Multiple objectives |
Spatial allocation (1 = Limited / 2 = Partial allocation / 3 =Detailed allocation)
|
Detailed allocation |
Stakeholders involved (1 = Limited / 2 = Key sectors / 3 =Sectors & Public)
|
Sectors & Public |
Participatory process (1 = Informative / 2 = Consultative / 3 =Collaborative)
|
Collaborative |
Funding (1= Government / 2 = Public-Private / 3 = Grants)
|
Government |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications |
Governmental funding |
Through public finances |
External funding |
N/A |
Public-private funding |
N/A |
Total size of planning area |
467 106 km² |
Time required to complete the planning document |
December 2017 – Government approval of final text in March 2021 |
Main issues that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
The driver of MSP in Ireland was the need to balance the different demands for using the sea, including the need to protect the marine environment. It aims to ensure that activities are as efficient and sustainable as possible. To provide a mechanism to:
Ireland is committed to the implementation of EU Directive 2014/89/EU establishing a framework for MSP and putting a marine spatial plan in place by March 2021. The need to meet international climate targets and offshore renewables will aid this and represent a step change in the scale of development in Irelands waters, requiring a plan led approach. |
Stakeholder engagement activities |
Throughout the Irish MSP process, the competent authority (DHPLG) has proactively organized and engaged in formal and informal stakeholder participation.
In 2017, the initial phase of the NMPF was the publication of Towards a Marine Spatial Plan for Ireland. This is a roadmap for the development of the plan. It emphasized the importance of stakeholder involvement and detailed the consultation phases for marine plan production, including when they would engage and who/how they will engage. Stakeholder engagement was identified as being vital to the success of the marine plan. The stakeholders identified include coastal communities, local authorities and other regulators, neighbouring jurisdictions, non-governmental organizations, industry representative groups, statutory partners and other government bodies. The roadmap also outlined when and how the competent authority would carry out stakeholder engagement. A National MSP Advisory Group was established to facilitate participation in the NMPF process by all relevant stakeholders from the economic, environmental and social pillars. The purpose of the Advisory Group is to harness the potential and capacity of a broad range of sectors, including representation from the public sector, business, environmental, social and knowledge-based sectors to guide strategic thinking and decision-making in the preparation of the NMPF. An Inter-Departmental Marine Planning Group advises and assists DHPLG on the establishment of goals and objectives for MSP in Ireland and ensures that DHPLG has regard to all policies, plans and functions relevant to the implementation of MSP within the responsibility of their departments and agencies. The NMPF Baseline Report was published in September 2018. This report is an ‘as is’ description of policy, activities and opportunities for Ireland’s MSP. The consultation period remained open until 14 December 2018. There was a formal consultation process on this, which was based on a series of published questions. The report on the consultation process is published at this link. All submissions are also available online. Responses to these questions were a crucial input to the draft NMPF. The Draft NMPF was published in December 2019. It sets out marine planning overarching policies, objectives and supporting policies in respect of marine activities. DHPLG held regional public events to promote awareness and facilitate public and stakeholder participation on the Draft NMPF (more information). In all, seven regional public events were held across Ireland, with another held online. These events engaged over 480 people in all. The deadline for receipt of responses was 30 April 2020. DHPLG received over 220 written submissions. |
Sectors included in planning |
The draft NMPF was published with the following headings covering the breadth of activity in Ireland’s maritime area. Headings are accompanied by relevant objectives and policies:
|
Articulation between MSP and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (IZCM) |
Coastal management in terms of coastal protection is undertaken by local authorities alongside national bodies including the Office of Public Works (OPW). Development at the coast is managed by local authorities on the landward side and authorities including the Foreshore section of DHPLG on the seaward side. The jurisdiction of local authorities ends at the high tide mark whilst management of activities by marine decision-makers such as the Foreshore section of DHPLG begins at the high tide mark. Ireland’s NMPF applies to the maritime area to: any policy, program or plan in relation to development or activity, or proposed development or activity; the giving of any consent or approval, or the grant or issue of licenses, certificates or other like documents; and regulation of any such development or activity. A wide range of stakeholders and authorities have been engaged in the development of the NMPF. This has included extensive engagement with those involved in coastal management. It should be noted that the development of the NMPF was cognizant of plans and policies already in place, such as the National Adaptation Framework, and did not duplicate these; rather they have provided key references that are included in the NMPF. |
Articulation between MSP and marine conservation (including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework |
At the time of NMPF development the text ‘ Marine Protected Areas’ did not have legal standing in Ireland but Ireland does have an extensive network of national and European designations. The term ‘Protected Marine Sites’ was used to identify these sites in the NMPF for the purposes of deriving suitable marine planning policies on this topic. Protected MarineSites are considered by all proposals capable of having an impact upon relevant features.
Ireland has a network of protected marine sites, including SACs and SPAs designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. There are also nationally designated sites such as Nature Reserves designated under the National Wildlife Acts. Under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Ireland is required to set up a coherent network of MPAs. This is recognized in the NMPF and work is ongoing in relation to relevant legislation and to prepare to the relevant designation process (https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/e00ec-marine-protected-areas/) |
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy |
The NMPF includes specific policies to support a thriving marine economy as well as detailed policies set out for particular sectors.
Ireland regularly publishes ‘Ireland’s Ocean Economy’ which provides key information on trends across maritime sectors in Ireland, informing MSP (https://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/1882). The NMPF was informed by Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth, published in 2012, as an Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland (https://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/810). It set out the vision, high-level Goals, and key enabling actions to put in place the appropriate policy, governance and business climate to enable marine potential to be realised. The document was framed around three high-level goals, to achieve: a thriving maritime economy; healthy ecosystems; and to increase our engagement with the sea. |
Articulation between MSP and climate change (including the Paris Agreement) |
The NMPF includes a chapter setting out the integration between MSP and national, European and international climate change initiatives. The chapter includes policies specific to climate change as well as referencing relevant sectoral policies elsewhere in the document e.g. those related to offshore wind development. |
Plan approval process |
Marine plans in Ireland are statutory. National and Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs) have prescribed approval processes as set out in the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021. |
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
The standing of marine plans in Ireland is legally binding under the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021. |
Plan review process |
Every six years (next revision in 2027) |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
National Marine Planning Framework Monitoring Approach is in development, which will monitor and evaluate the delivery of the Irelands Marine Spatial Plan and will inform the revision of future plans. |
Interactions with neighbouring countries in the context of MSP attending transboundary coherence approaches |
During development of the NMPF Ireland consulted and met with countries bordering its maritime area, including inviting comment of the plan and its assessments through notifications issued under the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive.
Ireland is an active participant in a number of formal and informal groups examining MSP and MSP-related matters. These include: the MSP Member State Expert Group ; Technical Expert Group (TEG) on Data for MSP Technical Expert Group (TEG) on Data for MSP | The European Maritime Spatial Planning Platform. The Atlantic Strategy; Greater North Sea Basin Initiative; North Seas Energy Cooperation; and ICES. Participation in these groups ensures Ireland’s MSP is informed by evolving best practices, provides for an in which shared challenges can be identified early, and provides avenues to explore collaboration opportunities. |
Legal framework
The EU MSP Directive was originally transposed into national legislation by way of regulations made in 2016 (SI 352 of 2016). Since the regulations were made under the European Communities Act 1972, they were strictly limited to measures required to transpose the Directive.
In October 2018, the regulations were repealed and replaced by Part5 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act2018. Part 5 re-transposes the Directive in primary legislation and contains a number of measures that are additional to those required by the directive, including:
- Adoption of the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) by both Houses of the Oireachtas
- Review and replacement of the NMPF every six years
- Obligation for marine regulatory bodies to secure the objectives of the NMPF when making policies, plans or granting consents
- Enforcement powers for the Minister if the foregoing obligations are not being fulfilled
The Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act provides the legal underpinning to a new marine planning system in Ireland. This will balance marine activities in Irelands seas, for example harnessing our huge offshore wind potential with protecting our rich and unique marine environment.
The Act, signed into law in December 2021, it provides a completely new regime for marine forward planning, decision making, consents and enforcement for the entire maritime area. It is underpinned by the National Marine Planning Framework and is a key enabler of Ireland’s decarbonisation goals.
Contact
Marine Planning Policy – Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications