Maritime Usage Licences
A Maritime Usage License (MUL), issued by the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) under Part 5 of the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 is an authorisation for certain maritime usages in the Maritime Area.
MARA cannot issue a MUL for which an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required. Where an EIA is required, a MAC must be applied for. MARA undertakes an appropriate assessment screening on all applications for a MUL and an appropriate assessment where required.
Types of Activity subject to a Licence:
Any usage that is not licensable, exempt or covered by other legislation, including but not limited to:
- Maintenance Dredging
- Environmental surveys for research and major developments
- Navigational markers not authorised by Commissioner for Irish Lights
- Non-permanent platforms, pontoons or slipways
- The deposit of any substance or object either in the sea or under the seabed
- The use of explosives
- The removal of any substance or object from the seabed
- The maintenance of any cable, pipeline, oil, gas or carbon storage facility
- Harvesting, disturbance or removal of seaweed
- Moorings
- Removal or disturbance of beach material
- Subsea cables traversing our EEZ but not landing in the State
- Any other activity that the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage (MHLGH) may determine by regulation
Anyone proposing to undertake any of these activities, from 17 July 2023, must apply to MARA for a licence, unless they have an existing foreshore consent.