Waterford MEP Grace O’Sullivan has said that there is a huge economic opportunity for the county following the publication of Ireland’s first Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP).
Four southern sites have been designated for the development of offshore wind energy, with two off the coast of Waterford. Site A (Tonn Nua) and Site B (Lí Ban) are located south of Dunmore East.
An independent economic analysis, published alongside the draft South Coast DMAP, highlights the potential economic benefits associated with implementation of the plan, which could deliver inward investment of €4.4 billion and an estimated 49,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) years of employment to the Irish economy. The analysis further highlights that more than 65% of inward investment and employment opportunities could be captured by the south coast region.
Welcoming the news, O’Sullivan said: “This is a very important milestone in Ireland’s renewable energy journey. For the first time, the State has designated areas for development, rather than the previous developer-led approach. We have made significant progress on renewables, with energy emissions down 7% last year to a 30 year low, but we need to kick on. Offshore wind will be critical for building a resilient, energy secure future.
“There is a huge economic opportunity for Waterford in this. There will be infrastructure investment required, there will be the direct jobs created in the renewable energy sector, the construction and installation jobs, and there will be the ancillary service jobs that go with any industrial investment too. Waterford is on track to become the economic powerhouse of the South East, and this is another welcome step on that journey.”
The South Coast DMAP will now go to public consultation for a six-week period before being brought before the Oireachtas for approval.
The aim is to have it approved by the summer recess in July.
Full information on the DMAPs is available here.
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