Vol. 551 No. 4
160 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his proposals to improve the monitoring on a continual basis of the emissions from telecommunications masts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10806/02]
The Director of Telecommunications Regulation sets the limits on non-ionising radiation emissions from telecommunications installations based on best international practice and is also responsible for monitoring compliance with these standards. The exempted development provisions of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, which came into force on 11 January 2002 require, for the first time, that all antennae and other apparatus which are exempt from planning permission must now comply with the relevant emission standards specified by the Director for Telecommunications Regulation.
When the new exempted development provisions were being considered by the Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government in December last, there was agreement that internationally derived emission levels for antennae would provide a safe standard from a health point of view, but that sufficient monitoring should take place to ensure that once erected, antennae remained within those emission levels.
The new regulatory regime reflects this concern. In accordance with my commitment to the committee I am also arranging to put in place a compliance regime, following consultation with all relevant interests, to ensure that all telecommunications antennae adhere to the strict limits for non-ionising radiation emissions. My Department has accordingly been working with the Department of Public Enterprise researching best practice abroad to ensure that the new compliance regime, to be operated by the Director of Telecommunications Regulation, will be as thorough as the best systems in place in other countries. I expect that proposals will be finalised in the very near future.
