Philip Nugent Principal Marine Spatial Planning Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government MRIA Forum February 2018

What is MSP? How has it evolved? Where are we at in the MSP cycle? Why do we need MSP? What’s in it for you? What will Ireland’s MSP look like?

What is MSP? “…a process by which the relevant Member State’s authorities analyse and organise human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic and social objectives” (Directive 2014/89/EU) A process that brings together multiple users of the ocean to make informed and coordinated decisions about how to use marine resources sustainably.

How has it evolved? Driven by a need to rectify spatial conflicts. In certain countries driven by the development of wind energy 40+ countries worldwide have a MSP US, Australia EU Directive 2014/89/EU Marine Plan for Ireland by March 2021

Where are we at in the MSP cycle? 4 main stages

Why do we need it? What’s in it for you?

What will MSP look like in Ireland?

Recap: what’s in it for you Recap: what’s in it for you? MSP will be a strategic spatial framework encompassing all plans and sectoral policies for the marine area - a coherent framework in which those sectoral policies and objectives can be realised. A decision making tool for regulatory authorities and policy makers including, decisions on individual consent applications which will have to have regard to the provisions of the plan in the same way that terrestrial plans form part of the decision making tool-kit in the on-land planning process. A key input to the development of future sectoral policies, similar to role of the National Planning Framework, Ireland2040, in terms of terrestrial sectoral policy development.

MSP@housing. gov. ie http://www. housing. gov