Clare County Council to team up with Limerick and Kerry councils over future of Shannon Estuary
Motion over Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) for Shannon Estuary brought to council meeeting
Clare County Council will seek to work with local authorities in Limerick and Kerry to approach the Department of the Environment about a Designated Marine Area Plan for the Shannon Estuary.
The matter was raised at the November meeting of Clare County Council by west Clare councillor Rita McInerney, who requested details of "resources available to it to contribute towards compiling a Designated Marine Area Plan (DMAP) which has been committed to in the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce plan".
She also asked that the council then liaise with local authorities in Limerick and Kerry and to jointly write to the Environment Minister seeking confirmation that the department is committed to the DMAP and to confirm it will be in place by the end of 2024.
“Last month the Dáil approved the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP), which outlines four new offshore wind farm sites off the south coast,” Councillor McInerney said.
“We need to ensure that West Clare is not left behind with regards to offshore wind energy and that is why the creation of an estuary DMAP is pivotal for our region,” she added.
In reply on behalf of Clare County Council Carmel Kirby, Director of Services Economic Development, said that the first objective would be to agree to a joint letter to the Minister “rather than committing now to resources from individual councils.”
“In the absence of sight of the scope or range of a possible DMAP proposal it may be more beneficial for Clare County Council to write to Kerry and Limerick City and County Councils with the objective of agreeing on a joint letter to the Minister setting out our joint support for the preparation of a DMAP roadmap and specifically requesting that consideration be given to prioritising the west coast within that roadmap,” Carmel Kirby said.
The Director of Service added that the council continues to meet with “key stakeholders such as the EPA, NPWS and Shannon Foynes Port Company” as part of the Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) for the Shannon Estuary.
“This group continues to meet through a steering group forum to discuss issues of mutual interest.
“In that regard the members can be assured that Clare County Council is working closely with Kerry and Limerick City and County Councils to explore all opportunities that may arise for the Shannon Estuary and the wider west coast marine area,”
Carmel Kirby confirmed.
“The Economic Directorate is committed to continuing to engage with Department officials to advocate for the development of a Designated Marine Area Plan roadmap which would include for the preparation of a plan for the West Coast area,” she added.
Chief Executive of Clare County Council Pat Dowling commented further stating that the DMAP is the priority from the Shannon Estuary Task Force Report issued in 2023 to much fanfare with a number of Government Ministers.
"The Designated Marine Area Plan for the West Coast needs to be high on the agenda for the next Government."
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