Minister English launches public consultation on Draft National Marine Planning Framework
-Framework to ensure coordinated planning decisions, consistent with Government vision and objectives
-Framework, bringing together all marine-based human activities, articulates Government’s vision, objectives and planning policies
-Plan will enhance national climate action through support for offshore renewable energy
-Greater protection of marine resources amidst increasing environmental pressure on Ireland’s maritime area
The Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Damien English, T.D., today (12th November) published the Government’s draft National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) for public consultation. The framework outlines the Government’s proposed approach to managing Ireland’s marine activities and ensuring sustainable use of marine resources to 2040.
For the first time, the Government has developed a single framework, bringing together all marine-based human activities, and presented its vision, objectives and planning policies for each activity. It outlines how they will interact with each other in an ocean space that is under increasing spatial pressure.
The finalised NMPF, expected to be adopted in late 2020, will be the key decision-making tool for Government departments, State agencies, regulatory authorities and policy makers for decisions on marine activities. Decisions will include planning applications as well as policies, projects and strategies. It will be a parallel document to the National Planning Framework, which provides a high-level guide to terrestrial planning and development over the next 20 years.
Commenting on the plan, Minister English said:
Our ocean supports a diverse range of economic activities such as seafood, tourism, renewable ocean energy and a wide range of recreational opportunities. It contains areas with some of the most productive and diverse resources in the world. Its ecosystem and biodiversity make it an environmental and social treasure. As our marine and coastal areas experience more pressures from human activity it is critical that we provide a framework for what activities should and shouldn’t happen in our marine and coastal areas.
The document sets out planning objectives and policies relating to sixteen different sectors/activities including: offshore renewable energy (and other energy sectors); fisheries; ports, harbours and shipping; safety at sea; sport and recreation; tourism; and telecommunications.
Amongst its elements are:
- in the area of offshore renewable energy, a statement that preference will be given to proposals for offshore wind farms (including enabling projects and infrastructure) in areas identified as designated zones for offshore wind, under the zoning process to be set out in the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill.
- details of the plan to modernise elements of the marine development and enforcement systems. There will be a single State consent system for the entire maritime area, replacing foreshore leases and licenses, which are limited to the territorial sea
- details of the planned legislative provisions for a system of designation of Strategic Marine Activity Zones. It is envisaged that any Government Minister will be able to bring forward proposals for designation of one or more zones, with decisions to adopt a zone to be made collectively by the Government.
- a commitment to the preparation of regional or sub-national plans in future planning cycles. These will be more localised and will potentially be more empowering for coastal communities throughout Ireland. At least three regional plans will be developed.
Ireland’s maritime area is seven times the size of its landmass. When the seabed is included, Ireland is one of the largest EU countries. Its 7,500km of coastline is longer than that of most EU countries. Seventy-five per cent of Ireland’s population live in coastal counties. In 2018, Ireland’s ocean economy had a turnover of €6.2 billion. It provided employment for 34,132 full-time equivalents and saw a 13% increase in employment on 2016 figures.
A strong component of the draft NMPF is its policies relating to renewable energy and action on climate change. Minister English said: “Climate change is the defining challenge of our generation. The Government’s Climate Action Plan, published in June, highlighted the critical role of marine planning for the delivery of offshore renewable energy. This document sets out the proposed forward planning framework within which our renewable energy targets can be met.” The Government’s Climate Action Plan commits to increasing the level of electricity generated from renewable sources to 70%, indicatively including at least 3.5GW of offshore renewable energy. The draft NMPF reinforces the Government’s commitment to move away from oil combustion within heat and transport sectors towards renewables in the coming decade.
The Minister also launched the Government’s new Marine Planning Policy Statement this morning. The statement, which was subject to public consultation from 10 June to 9 August this year, outlines the Government’s vision for the future development of the marine planning system. It also sets out the overarching policies and principles the Government expects marine planning bodies and other public bodies that engage with the marine planning system to observe. Just as the NMPF will be a parallel document to the National Planning Framework, the Marine Planning Policy Statement is a parallel document to the Planning Policy Statement, which underpins the operation of Ireland’s entire land-planning system.
The Minister concluded by inviting the public and all interested parties to give their views on the draft framework.
The document we’re publishing is the culmination of two years of engagement and dialogue with the public and stakeholders and across Government. The very constructive engagement with the NMPF Baseline Report, published last year, has had a major influence on this document. Whether you are in the energy sector, a fisherman, want to protect our marine environment, or live in a coastal community and are concerned about your area’s future, please have your say before February 28th. We want the finalised plan to be national in every sense – valued, owned and supported by all. Strong public input will help achieve that.