The Irish Government has published the Draft National Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) for Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE), alongside the accompanying Public Participation Statement (PPS).

The DMAP will serve as a strategic plan setting out the development and management of offshore renewable energy resources along Ireland’s coasts. It will provide a clear and sustainable framework for the growth of marine renewables, balancing economic development, environmental protection, and public participation to support Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon future.

The plan will identify suitable coastal sites for offshore wind development, including fixed, floating, and floating demonstration projects. This initiative forms part of the Government’s Programme commitment to accelerate offshore wind energy and underpins the national target of delivering 20 GW by 2040.

The proposal builds on the South Coast DMAP, approved by the Oireachtas in October 2024, where the first 900 MW auction for the Tonn Nua project will take place in November.

A framework for offshore expansion

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Darragh O’Brien TD, and Minister of State at the Department with responsibility for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley TD, jointly announced the publication of the Draft DMAP for Offshore Renewable Energy and the accompanying PPS.

The plan is part of the Programme for Government’s commitment to accelerate the rollout of offshore wind and will contribute to Ireland’s target of securing 20 GW of offshore capacity by 2040. It builds on the South Coast DMAP for ORE, approved by the Oireachtas last year, with the first of its four designated sites, Tonn Nua, set for a 900 MW auction in November.

The Draft DMAP and PPS aim to drive Ireland’s ambition in marine renewables through a plan-led framework guiding offshore development. The documents outline the scope of the overall plan, timelines, and the steps required to develop the DMAP over the next two years, as well as the Government’s commitment to broad and inclusive consultation with the public and stakeholders throughout the process.

Commenting on the publication, Minister O’Brien said that "the National Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy supports our decarbonisation efforts and our ambition to reach 20 GW of offshore renewables by 2040. Having a single national DMAP for ORE to follow on from Phase One projects and the South Coast DMAP provides greater certainty for our marine stakeholders and the renewables industry. This Draft, together with the PPS, sets out what we will do and how we will ensure people’s voices are heard. We strongly encourage all stakeholders to engage in the forthcoming public participation opportunities.”

Minister Dooley added that “for Ireland, human-induced climate change presents a significant and costly challenge to which our communities must adapt. At the same time, the constant unpredictability of geopolitical events has made our reliance on fossil fuels unreliable and unaffordable. These combined pressures highlight the urgent need for Ireland to accelerate its transition towards indigenous, transformative renewable energy sources. The DMAP process will ensure that offshore development is carried out in a managed and sustainable way.”

Next steps

A broad public and stakeholder consultation on the Draft National DMAP will take place during 2026 and 2027. The final National DMAP is expected to be completed in 2027 and submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas for approval.