CCA Documents
Coastal Concern Alliance (CCA) is an independent citizens’ group set up in 2006 to campaign for reform of the undemocratic Foreshore Act 1933 which governs construction at sea, and the introduction of coastal and marine planning to conserve and protect marine wildlife and coastal landscapes and seascapes. We are in favour of offshore renewable energy projects to help cut Ireland’s fossil fuel consumption provided such schemes are sensitively located in line with good international environmental practice. We have been lobbying government on the need to reform foreshore governance since our foundation.
In addition, we have made comprehensive submissions to numerous pertinent public consultations (see below). In the decade since 2006, we have seen the concerns we have raised about: i) the need for proper public consultation on offshore developments and ii) the adverse impact on landscape and marine wildlife of inappropriately sited offshore wind farms, become mainstream throughout the EU.
A main focus of CCA submissions in recent years has been the developer-led nature of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) drafted by Minister Eamon Ryan in 2010 and adopted by Government in 2014. This Plan and its accompanying SEA Environmental Report is a clear example of retrospective planning. It encompasses and endorses massive developments with hundreds of giant turbines permitted (1,600 MW ) and progressed (2,000MW) in full view of the high amenity coasts of Wicklow, Dublin and Louth during the Celtic Tiger years under outdated legislation (Foreshore Act 1933), with no Plan, no Strategic Environmental Assessment, no public tender for sites, and on the sole authority of the Minister for the Marine with no statutory involvement of local authorities, no public right of appeal and no independent professional assessment of visual impact on adjoining coastlines.
There is full knowledge at all levels of government of these legacy issues which must be addressed if Ireland’s seas are to be governed in a democratic manner in the public interest.
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Submission to Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss
Dodgy Dealings Under the Sea, July 2022
EU vs Ireland - Procedures for Offshore Wind, April 2022
Harnessing our Ocean Wealth: Critical Analysis, April 2022
Offshore Wind - Phase 11 Consultation, 9 March 2022
CCA submission to consultation on development of OREDP Two.
Maritime Area Consent, Assessment for Phase One projects, Feb 2022
Maritime Area Planning Bill, October 2021
Expanding Ireland's Marine Protected Area Network, 30 July 2021
Marine Planning and Development Management Bill, December 2020.
Consultation to Inform a Grid Development Policy for Ireland, July 2020
National Marine Planning Framework, April 2020
CCA submission to Public Consultation on the draft Plan
'Sandbanks slightly covered by seawater at all times': Factors relevant to Conservation, December 2019.
Marine Planning - An overview, December 2019
Marine Planning Policy Statement, August 2019
CCA Submission to Public Consultation
National Marine Planning Framework Baseline Report, Dec 2018
CCA Submission. Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
Already Existing Renewable Infrastructure, 2018
Mid Term Review of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan 2014
CCA Submission. Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, December 2017
Ireland 2040 Our Plan – Draft National Planning Framework
CCA Submission. Department of Housing Planning & Local Government, November 2017
Citizens' Assembly. Making Ireland a leader in tackling Climate Change
CCA Submission, August 2017
Arklow Energy Ltd: Application for Dumping at Sea Permit
CCA Submission. Arklow Energy Ltd application to the EPA for a permit for seabed levelling by sea plough of 99.999 tonnes of material (sand and gravel) over an 8 year period, January 2017
Draft Guidance on Environmental Impact Statement and Natura Impact Statement for Offshore Renewable Energy Project prepared by McCabe, Durney, Barnes
CCA Submission. Environmental Working Group of the Offshore Renewable Energy Steering Group and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, December 2016
Galway Bay Marine & Renewable Energy Test Site.
CCA Submission, September 2016
Draft regulations to transpose the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive into Irish Law.
CCA Submission, May 2016
Government plan threatens east coast – Briefing Document
CCA Briefing Document, February 2016
Offshore Wind - A planning scandal
CCA Briefing Document, April 2015
A draft National Landscape Strategy for Ireland 2014-2024
CCA Submission. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, August 2014
Irish Offshore Wind – Urgent need for reform of foreshore governance
CCA Presentation to Parliamentary Labour Party, February 2014
Maritime Area & Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013
1. CCA Presentation to JOC on Draft Legislation, November 2013
2. CCA Speakers’ Notes for JOC Presentation, November 2013
Dublin Array Offshore Windfarm
CCA Submission in response to the Environmental Impact Statement, May 2013
Dublin Array Offshore Windfarm. Visual Impact Assessment Photomontages
Photomontages - East Coast Wind Farms, 2013
A New Planning and Consent Architecture for Development in the Marine Area
CCA Comment on Discussion Document, February 2013
Our Ocean Wealth
CCA Submission to the public consultation, March 2012
Global Offshore Wind Farms: Comparison with Ireland
CCA Briefing Document, March 2012
Wicklow Offshore Wind Farms: Speculation and Inadequate Regulation
CCA Briefing Document, April 2012
Providence Resources Application for Foreshore Licence in Kish Basin
CCA Submission to public consultation, February 2012
Irish Offshore Wind: Beyond the Reach of Planning?
National Landscape Strategy Consultation
CCA Submission, November 2011
SEA of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan, 2010
National Renewable Energy Action Plan
CCA Submission to Department of Communications Energy & Natural Resources, June 2010
Scoping for SEA on Plans to develop Offshore Renewable Energy
CCA submission to public consultation, November 2009
Photomontages & Visual Impact Assessment of Offshore Windfarms
Sceirde Offshore Windfarm Foreshore Lease Application
CCA submission to public consultation on Environmental Impact Statement, February 2009
Oriel Windfarm Foreshore Lease Application
CCA Submission to public consultation on Environmental Impact Statement, June 2007
Energy Green Paper: Towards a Sustainable Energy future for Ireland
CCA Submission to Energy Planning Division, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, November 2006