Ms Jan O'Sullivan TD, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, has published the General Scheme of the Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill.

The Bill has two overarching aims:

• to align the foreshore consent system with the planning system; and

• to provide a coherent mechanism to facilitate and manage development activity in the State's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) beyond the territorial waters/foreshore and on the continental shelf, including in relation to strategic infrastructure projects, such as oil and gas, ports and offshore renewable energy.

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In broad terms, it is intended to provide for a more streamlined development consent process for both the onshore and offshore elements of strategic infrastructure projects, with An Bord Pleanála (the Board) as the consent authority.

This change will reduce duplication in the consent process and involve a single Environmental Impact Assessment, thereby also reducing the cost of applications. Responsibility for development located in the nearshore area will be assigned to coastal local authorities, apart from developments requiring either Environmental Impact Assessment or Appropriate Assessment, which will fall under the direct remit of the Board.

Minister O'Sullivan said: "This is the most significant reform of the marine consenting architecture in the 80 years since enactment of the Foreshore Act in 1933. The Bill will streamline and modernise the existing consent systems with consequential benefits for economic activity and job creation.

"The new foreshore system will also see devolution of additional powers from central government to local authorities."

(CD/JP)