Fishery Liaison and Community Liaison Services announced for National DMAP
- Published on: 21 January 2026
- Last updated on: 21 January 2026
- National DMAP (Designated Maritime Area Plan) provides a spatial planning policy framework for offshore renewable energy
- Community Liaison Service is the main point of contact between coastal communities and the National DMAP Project team
- Fisheries Liaison Service will work closely with the seafood sector to ensure their input to all stages of the DMAP process
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien, and Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Timmy Dooley, are pleased to announce the appointments of Fishery Liaison and Community Liaison Services for the National Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) for Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE).
Community Liaison Services for the DMAP will be led by Captain Brian Fitzgerald, while Fisheries Liaison Services will be led by Mr Mark O'Reilly of Fishery Liaisons Ltd.
The National DMAP for ORE will provide a spatial planning policy framework for offshore renewable energy, including designation of offshore windfarm sites in Ireland's maritime area. It will also assist in realising the State's energy security needs and climate action decarbonisation objectives.
The role of the Community Liaison Service will be to act as the main point of contact between coastal communities and the National DMAP Project team. The Fisheries Liaison Service will work closely with the seafood sector (including aquaculture) to ensure their input to all stages of the DMAP process.
Workshops with relevant marine stakeholders are scheduled for February and March 2026. Extensive public and stakeholder consultation will take place on the National DMAP over the course of 2026 and 2027 as part of the "DMAP Dialogue" and the overarching Public Participation process.
MacCabe Durney Barnes, in association with AARC, have been appointed as Project Managers of the National ORE DMAP. The Dublin-based firm will liaise with the DMAP project team in delivering the plan by the end of 2027. All services were secured following a public procurement process led by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien, commented:
"These key appointments, along with our Public Participation Statement (PPS) available online, will ensure we are taking the necessary steps to ensure the voices of coastal communities and the seafood sector are heard. The PPS will be regularly updated to provide information for all marine stakeholders and interested citizens as to how they can take part in the DMAP process. We therefore strongly encourage all interested parties to engage in the future public participation opportunities that are scheduled over the course of the DMAP development."
Minister of State Dooley said:
"The DMAP liaison services will be critical to the development process of the National DMAP for Offshore Renewable Energy, and strongly underline the commitment to an open, transparent and inclusive process set out in the Public Participation Statement. Captain Brian Fitzgerald and Mark O'Reilly bring an established record of successful communication, co-operation and collaboration with stakeholders and communities, and I very much look forward to working with them."
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
More information on the National ORE DMAP, its proposal and accompanying Public Participation Statement can be found on the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment's website.