Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 1

Written Answers. - Telecommunications Services.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

695 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns being expressed by residents of Killinarden, Raheen, Springfield and the general Tallaght area, Dublin 24, in respect of masts at Tallaght Business Park at the junction of the Tallaght bypass and Killinarden Estate; if action can be taken to prevent such developments close to housing communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15159/03]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

The erection of all telecommunications masts requires planning permission from the relevant planning authority unless specifically exempted under the Planning and Development Act or regulations. My Department has no function in relation to the siting of masts at individual locations.

In July 1996 my Department issued guidelines for planning authorities on telecommunications antennae and support structures. The purpose of the guidelines was to assist planning authorities, An Bord Pleanála, operators of mobile telecommunications services and the general public by providing guidance on dealing with telecommunications masts and base stations within the planning system. The guidelines now have statutory recognition under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 which provides that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála must have regard to them in the performance of their functions.

The guidelines do not specify minimum distances between masts and other structures. However, they specifically recommend that only as a last resort, and if all alternatives are unavailable or unsuitable, should consideration be given to locating free-standing masts in a residential area or beside schools. A statement on health and safety aspects which the Departments of Health and Children and Communications, Marine and Natural Resources agreed with my Department, is included as an appendix to the guidelines. Health aspects are dealt with by requiring operators, as part of their planning application, to furnish to the planning authority a statement of compliance with international radiation protection association guidelines.

The main concern relating to health issues of telecommunications masts is whether it is likely that there could be public exposure to non-ionising radiation in excess of those limits specified by the Director of Telecommunications Regulation. Arising from concerns that there should be sufficient monitoring to ensure that radiation levels remain below those limits, my Department has been working with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to develop a new regime of monitoring. This will ensure that all telecommunication antennae adhere to the strict limits for non-ionising radiation emissions. The contract for the monitoring regime, which will involve monitoring of 400 sites, has been placed and the Commission for Communication Regulation, ComReg, formerly the Office of the Director for Communication Regulation, has recently sought nominations from members of the public who wish to have individual sites monitored as part of the programme.