Irish government’s West Action Plan for jobs has included a series of actions to develop the marine research and ocean energy industries in the region.
The West Plan covers counties Mayo, Roscommon and Galway, and if successful, it is estimated to create of 25,000 jobs in Western Ireland.
The Plan states that The Marine Institute and The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) will continue to develop and promote the national Smart Bay test and demonstration facility in Galway Bay, with ongoing testing of advanced marine technologies and systems.
The SEAI will also develop the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site in Belmullet as a grid-connected national deep water test facility for wave devices and components at the final stage of test and demonstration.
The plan is part of a new €250 million regional jobs strategy led by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, and is set to be delivered over the period between 2015-2017.
Image: SEAI/Illustration