Prescribed Body

Prescribed Body

MARA as a Prescribed Body:

The Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) forms the foundations for planning in Ireland. This Act covers a huge range of planning-related issues, and combines a wide range of different legislation into one place. There have been a number of changes to the legislation since 2000, which are set out in the administrative consolidation drawn up by the Law Reform Commission. In accordance with Section 279A. of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended), The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority is, by virtue of this section, a prescribed body for the purposes of Part XXI (Maritime Development) of the Act of 2000, and accordingly, a reference in this Part to prescribed bodies shall include a reference to the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority.

Planning Authorities are therefore required to consult with MARA on all maritime planning applications, including;

  • located within the maritime area (including nearshore and/or outer maritime areas), or
  • where potential to affect the maritime area, or
  • planning applications on reclaimed land which are below the High Water Mark (HWM),
  • planning applications predominantly on land but where there is an encroachment into the maritime area perhaps for an outfall for example that extends beyond the HWM.

Consultation requests on such planning applications should be forwarded to consultation@mara.gov.ie for review and comment, clearly identifying the deadline for receipt of comments.

Please note that MARA has a preference for accepting digital requests for consultation, and the relevant planning reference number and links to where the planning application details can be found, should be included in your email. Our comments will relate only to projects/activities/development within the maritime area. Furthermore, our comments should not be interpreted as inferring any aspect of assessment of a project or proposed development.

MARA will strive to provide comments as they relate to MARA’s functions within the maritime area. MARA’s functions extend to the entire maritime area, from high water of ordinary tides to the outer limit of the continental shelf, encompassing the State’s territorial seas and Exclusive Economic Zone as set out in the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021

For more information and all maritime planning consultation requests, please email consultation@mara.gov.ie

NOTE: MARA is not a planning authority and any party wishing to submit comments or observations on a planning application should directly consult with the relevant planning authority.

Costal Planning Authorities

Coastal Planning Authorities asses maritime applications wholly within their own nearshore area only (three nautical miles from the nearest point of the high water mark) or where its partly in their nearshore area and partly on land.

Local Government Ireland Planning System The Local Government Online Planning website allows planning applications and planning submissions to be submitted to Local Authorities online.Cork City and County are upgrading their planning systems and will be live once this is complete, by Q1 2025. Dublin City,  Dún Laoghaire, Fingal, South Dublin accept planning submissions directly to the local authority. 

An Coimisiún Pleanála

An Coimisiún Pleanála assess maritime applications in the outer maritime area, within the nearshore of two or more Coastal Planning Authorities, development of a class specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) See Section 285 of the Act of 2000 for a complete list of where applications are made to An Coimisiún Pleanála. Make an Observation on a Marine Application | An Coimisiún Pleanála –