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:
- Marine planning objectives
- Marine planning policies, and
- Supporting actions required to achieve (1) and (2) above.
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 (note that two separate sessions are being held on each date):
| Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 21/11/2019 | 14:00 – 16:00 | Greenhills Hotel, Limerick |
| 21/11/2019 | 18:00 – 20:00 | Greenhills Hotel, Limerick |
| 26/11/2019 | 14:00 – 16:00 | Town Hall, Westport |
| 26/11/2019 | 18:00 – 20:00 | Town Hall, Westport |
| 02/12/2019 | 14:00 – 16:00 | Connaught Hotel, Galway |
| 02/12/2019 | 18:00 – 20:00 | Connaught Hotel, Galway |
| 10/12/2019 | 14:00 – 16:00 | Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee |
| 10/12/2019 | 18:00 – 20:00 | Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee |
Make a Submission
The Department invites submissions on the Draft NMPF. The consultation period closes at 12:00 noon on 28th February 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
For more details, click here