Ireland

Pre-planning

Development of the management plan

Approval of the management plan

Revision of the management plan

National authority in charge of MSP

Financing

Time required to complete the plans

Drivers of MSP

The driver of MSP in Ireland is 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

It will provide a mechanism to:
_Analyze and organize activities in the maritime area for the purpose of achieving ecological, economic and social priorities
_Establish a national strategy for Government in relation to the strategic planning and sustainable development in the maritime area
_Apply an ecosystem based approach for the purpose of supporting proper planning and sustainable development in the maritime area
_Encourage the colocation of relevant activities and developments in the maritime area

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

Stakeholder participation

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, neighboring 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

Relation to coastal management

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 will apply in 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 licences, certificates or other like documents; and regulation of any such development or activity

Public bodies are legally obliged to adopt measures, consistent with their functions, to secure objectives of the NMPF

Given the range of activity that will need to consider the plan once adopted, 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 has been cognisant of plans and policies already in place, such as the National Adaptation Framework, and has not sought to duplicate these; rather they have provided key references that are included in the NMPF

Relation to marine protected area management

Marine Protected Areas are an overarching area of marine planning policy in the draft NMPF. MPAs should therefore be considered by all proposals capable of having impacts in the maritime area

Ireland has a network of protected marine sites, including SACs and SPAs designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. There is one Marine Nature Reserve 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 Draft NMPF

Plan approval

Legal status of the plan

Plan revision

Performance monitoring and evaluation