Vol. 520 No. 2
42 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands her views on windfarms being located in areas of scientific interest or natural heritage areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15340/00]
I presume the Deputy is referring to my role in conserving the integrity of sites that have been proposed as natural heri tage areas; special protection areas and special areas of conservation.
Windfarms on land require planning permission, so decisions on particular windfarm developments are primarily the responsibility of the local authorities. As part of the planning process, these authorities consult my Department on any proposal that may impact on designated areas. My Department examines these proposals to see whether or not they are consistent with the conservation objectives of the site. Where it is considered that a proposal will cause significant damage to the site my Department objects to planning permission being given.
I should stress that my Department's consideration of any proposal is confined to the scientific issues of conservation and may not include other issues such as scenic or aesthetic values. Most issues of concern arise at the construction stage, for example, drainage of peatland for new access roads, but there can also be ongoing effects on bird populations. Windfarms should only be permitted in designated areas where conservation issues can be satisfactorily addressed.
