Implementing the SC-DMAP

A maritime area consent (MAC) and a maritime usage licence (MUL) have been awarded to the company overseeing offshore renewable energy development at one of the four maritime area sites identified by the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC-DMAP), a report shows.

Implementing the SC-DMAP for ORE: Oversight and Progress Report, published by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) in March 2026, says Helvick Head Offshore Wind DAC, which is developing area A, Tonn Nua, was granted an MAC by the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) in March 2026. MARA also awarded it with an MUL in May 2026.

The SC-DMAP is part of the proposed National Designated Maritime Area Plan which envisages the designation of renewable energy sites around Ireland’s coast. It is to contribute to the State’s target of 20GW offshore renewable energy generation by 2040.

EirGrid is responsible for building the new transmissions grid infrastructure need to bring power generated by offshore windfarms to the national grid. It was awarded an MUL for Tonn Nua in July 2025, and marine surveys were completed in 2025 including geophysical and environmental surveys of proposed cable routes.

The organisation plans to conduct geophysical, geotechnical, and environmental surveys in 2026. It will also work to identify optimal landfalls, onshore cable corridors, and grid infrastructure sub-zones.

The report says EirGrid is progressing offshore transmission infrastructure required to connect up to 900MW at Tonn Nua and to enable future connections for area B, Lí Ban during the 2030s.

In January 2026, a draft connection options report for Lí Ban was issued to DCEE. The report says “further engagements are planned to finalise this approach”, adding that EirGrid “will continue optioneering works for Lí Ban in 2026”.

Studies of potential connection options for areas C and D, called Manannán and Danu, have commenced. A report on this was scheduled for mid-2026 but has not been published as of October 2026.

The progress report asserts that the SC-DMAP contributed to the construction of the multi-modal berth Cork Offshore Renewable Energy (CORE) 1 at the Port of Cork. CORE 1 aims to enable the port to act as a deployment hub for offshore renewable energy.

Rosslare Europort and Waterford Port have received MACs for proposed developments and have submitted planning applications to An Coimisiún Pleanála. The report asserts that both ports are “well-positioned” to support phase one offshore wind projects and subsequent SC-DMAP developments.

Construction of the Rosslare offshore renewable energy hub is to begin in early-2027, with delivery aimed for early-2029. It is to be a base for the construction, operation, and maintenance of offshore wind farms in the Irish and Celtic seas. Waterford Port is seeking to build an offshore renewable energy-capable terminal in Kilkenny.

The review process for the regional spatial and economic strategies (RSESs) for the southern region, due to commence in 2026, is to incorporate a new regional strategy for marine and coastal matters.

DCEE is to engage with coastal planning authorities regarding the RSES review process and development of city and county development plans. This is to pertain to terrestrial planning policies, objectives, and actions to support the SC-DMAP’s implementation including provision of sustainable onshore infrastructure to enable offshore renewable energy development in SC-DMAP areas.

The report says Cork County Council has established a dedicated offshore renewable energy unity to coordinate actions in line with the State’s offshore renewable energy goals for 2030.

High-level vessel activity review

A high-level vessel activity review conducted by Anatec Limited within the maritime areas found that they “largely avoid the highest vessel densities”. However, it states that each maritime area is adjacent to “a high-density route with a minor proportion of these cells overlapping the maritime areas”.

The review says a “notable amount of traffic” transits between areas A and B, heading between Cork and the traffic separation scheme off Tuskar Rock. While the review finds “the bulk of vessels avoid either area”, it says the required minimum width of 3.5 nautical miles (nm) between developments in both areas may require further consideration.

The review says there is a high-density north-south route east of area B and west of area C. Due to this, the current minimum width of 3.5nm between both areas requires further consideration, the review asserts. It says “more sea space is likely to be required”.

The review also asserts that a future offshore windfarm project level navigation risk assessment should examine whether proposed infrastructure locations in each site allow sufficient sea room for small vessels to avoid structures.

Next steps

As part of the SC-DMAP’s next steps, regional level surveys (RLSs) are being developed to inform the appropriate scale and location of proposed offshore renewable energy developments in areas B, C, and D.

The Marine Ecosystems and Ornithology (MEO) Work Group is to decide on the scope of the RLSs which much meet the monitoring requirements of a strategic environmental assessment (SEA).

Monitoring requirements of the SEA to track significant environmental effects of the SC-DMAP’s implementation are being developed. RLSs are to be published following approval by the SC-DMAP Implementation Programme Body (IPB).

The report also states that work is ongoing to develop the ecosystems services mapping which is to identify environmental, economic, and social indicators to monitor progress of the plan.

During a June 2026 Dáil Éireann debate, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien TD indicated that he expects Tonn Nua “to be energised in 2033”. He continued: “We are making preparations to bring the remaining three south coast DMAP sites to auction over the coming period.”