Minister O’Brien secures Government approval for completion of ambitious programme to map all of Ireland’s offshore territory
- Published on: 30 April 2026
- Last updated on: 30 April 2026
- INFOMAR programme will continue to support the development of key maritime policies and industries
- Programme will now map the most challenging area, to complete what has become known as ‘The Real Map of Ireland’
- Ireland will become the first nation in the world with a significant maritime area to meet this challenging objective
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien has secured approval for the completion of the INFOMAR (Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s Marine Resource) programme. INFOMAR, a joint venture between Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) and the Marine Institute, aims to map of all of Ireland’s offshore territory – an area that is 10 times the size of Ireland's landmass, at just under 1 million square kilometres.
The final phase of the INFOMAR programme will take place from 2027 to 2029 and will map the most challenging and shallowest final 125,000 square kilometres, to complete what has become known as ‘The Real Map of Ireland’. Survey operations are scheduled from March to October each year in 2026, 2027 to 2028, with a final year of data processing in 2029.
The Government has deployed a fleet of state-of-the-art research vessels, including the RV Tom Crean, RV Keary, and RV Mallet, to cover the remaining unmapped areas of the Celtic Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Irish Sea.
The programme brings benefits in several, impactful areas. For the ORE (Offshore Renewable Energy) sector, the data will assist in identifying the best locations for offshore wind energy and will guide the laying of subsea cables and the construction of tidal generators, essential for meeting Ireland’s target of 37GW of offshore wind by 2050.
Also, from the perspective of security and sovereignty, the mapping protects critical international telecommunications cables and energy interconnectors and reinforces Ireland’s jurisdiction and management of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
From the perspective of marine safety, the data is used to update hydrographic charts, reducing the risk of groundings. Over 420 shipwrecks have already been identified, preserving maritime heritage and notifying mariners of potential underwater hazards.
For environmental protection, the mapping allows for a ‘plan-led’ approach to conservation and identifies sensitive habitats (like cold-water coral reefs) to ensure they are excluded from industrial development. The seabed data improves oceanographic and ecosystem models, informing storm surge and flood forecasting, coastal erosion prediction, and the long-term impacts of rising sea levels.
Commenting on Government approval for the completion of the INFOMAR programme, Minister O’Brien said:
"This final push to complete the mapping of our seabed is not just a scientific achievement; it is an economic and environmental necessity. We are unlocking the secrets of our ocean wealth to ensure a sustainable future for our coastal communities and our energy security. Recent events in the Middle East have shown the importance of reducing Ireland’s dependence of imported fossil fuels. We can achieve this by deploying home-grown renewable energy at scale. This is essential for securing our long-term energy security and ensuring price stability for Irish households and businesses."
Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment Timmy Dooley said:
"Ireland will become the first nation in the world with a significant maritime area to meet the objective of mapping all of its offshore territory. The completion of the programme will solidify Ireland’s position as a global leader in seabed mapping and marine high-resolution data underpinning policy and future sustainable development."
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
INFOMAR:
INFOMAR (Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s Marine Resource) is Ireland’s national seabed mapping programme. Funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment, it is jointly managed by Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute, and provides baseline data informing policy, and enabling environmentally sound sustainable and accelerated development of multi-sectoral maritime activities, including: energy; fisheries and aquaculture; transport; tourism and leisure; and infrastructure development. Link: www.infomar.ie.
GSI (Geological Survey Ireland):
GSI (Geological Survey Ireland) is part of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, and is Ireland’s Earth science agency. It provides free, open and accurate data and maps on Ireland's geology and subsurface to landowners, the public, industry, and all other stakeholders, within Ireland and internationally. In addition, Geological Survey Ireland interprets data and develops models and viewers to allow people to understand the underground in areas such as geological mapping, planning, groundwater, seabed mapping, natural hazards, minerals, and renewable energy. Link: www.gsi.ie.
Marine Institute:
Marine Institute (MI) is the State agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation in Ireland, providing scientific and technical advice to Government to help inform policy and to support the sustainable development of Ireland’s marine resource. The Marine Institute was set up under the Marine Institute Act 1991: 'to undertake, to coordinate, to promote and to assist in marine research and development and to provide such services related to research and development, that in the opinion of the Institute, will promote economic development and create employment and protect the marine environment'. Link: www.marine.ie.