Ireland’s government has approved the final phase of the INFOMAR programme to map the country’s offshore territory.
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment said the programme will cover the remaining 125,000 square kilometres between 2027 and 2029.
It added the initiative will complete mapping of an area just under one million square kilometres, around 10 times Ireland’s landmass.
The department noted the data will support offshore renewable energy development, including identifying sites for wind farms and subsea infrastructure.
It said the programme will also enhance marine safety, environmental protection and the management of critical infrastructure.
“This final push to complete the mapping of our seabed is not just a scientific achievement; it is an economic and environmental necessity,” said Darragh O’Brien, minister for climate, energy and the environment.
“We can achieve this by deploying home-grown renewable energy at scale.”
“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,” said Timmy Dooley, minister of state at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.