From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Open for submissions from
Submissions closed
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Consultation is closed
Ministers Eoghan Murphy and Damien English have published the Draft National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) for public consultation.
The Draft NMPF is Ireland’s first marine planning framework and it applies to a broad range of marine activities including aquaculture, offshore renewable energy, sea fisheries and tourism. It provides a long-term framework for effective management of marine activities and more sustainable use of our marine resources. It is intended to enable Government to set a clear direction for managing our seas, clarify objectives and priorities, and direct decision makers, users and stakeholders towards more strategic, plan-led and efficient use of marine resources.
The NMPF will inform decisions about current and future development of the maritime area, aiming to integrate various sectoral needs within the three overarching pillars of forward planning (economic, environmental and social).
In broad terms the Draft NMPF is based around:
The plan does not set out a hierarchy of activities. It does, however, set out supporting policies in respect of aquaculture, defence, energy, fisheries, mining and aggregates, ports harbours & shipping, telecommunications cables, tourism, safety at sea, sport & recreation, and waste-water treatment and disposal.
Regional public events are being held to promote awareness and facilitate public and stakeholder participation on the Draft NMPF. Details of the events arranged to date are as follows.
| Date | Time | Venue | Theme |
| 12/02/2020 | 18:00 – 20:00 | Arklow Bay Hotel, Arklow, Co.Wicklow, Y14 DX02 | Offshore Renewable Energy |
| 17/02/2020 | 11:00 - 13:00 | St Laurence's, Technological University Dublin, Grange Gorman, Dublin, D07 E244 | Marine Environment |
| 02/03/2020 | 18:00 – 20:00 | School of Tourism, Letterkenny Instituteof Technology Campus, Shore Road,Killybegs, Co. Donegal, F94 DV52 | Fisheries |
Due to the current public health situation regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) the remaining planned public meetings have been cancelled.
Make a Submission
The Department invites submissions on the Draft NMPF. The consultation period closes at 12:00 noon on 30 April 2020. You can make a submission by:
Email to the following address only msp@housing.gov.ie ; or
Writing to the following address:
Draft NMPF Submissions, Marine Planning Section, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Newtown Road, Wexford Y35 AP90
Draft National Marine Planning Framework - SEA Screening Determination
Draft National Marine Planning Framework - SEA Environmental Report
Draft National Marine Planning Framework - Appropriate Assessment Screening Report
Draft National Marine Planning Framework - Appropriate Assessment Screening Determination
Draft National Marine Planning Framework - Natura Impact Statement
Draft National Marine Planning Framework - Baseline Report Public Consultation Process
Draft National Marine Planning Framework - Privacy Statement
All submissions and comments submitted to the Department for this purpose are subject to release under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007- 2014. Submissions are also subject to Data Protection legislation.
Personal, confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be included in your submission and it will be presumed that all information contained in your submission is releasable under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.
Responses will inform the further development of the National Marine Planning Framework. Please note that submissions received may be made available on the Department’s website. In any event, all submissions received will be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act and Data Protection legislation. See also the Privacy Statement under the Documents link above.