Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2010
195 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether, if in haste to avail of the environmental benefits of wind farms, we are ignoring the ecological damage that turbines can do (details supplied). [8443/10]
View answer196 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether peat bogs store three times as much carbon as is held in tropical rain-forests (details supplied); if he will commission another study to examine the consequence of the impact of wind farms on areas such as Corry Mountain, County Leitrim. [8445/10]
View answer197 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the grouse habitat is destroyed in the natural heritage area — Corry Mountain Bog, NHA 002321, Order 2005 — due to a wind farm project; and if he proposes through the national parks and wildlife service to restore the grouse habitat. [8451/10]
View answer198 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the national parks and wildlife service is responsible for the enforcement of national heritage area 473/2005 plans to prosecute the promoters of the wind farm for the damage to the upland bog. [8452/10]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 198, inclusive, together.
I fully appreciate the importance of peat bogs as a carbon sink. My Department's Wind Energy Development Guidelines issued to planning authorities in June 2006, and available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie, provide comprehensive advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan process. They include advice on the development of wind energy in peatlands, in order to reduce impacts, including the minimisation of habitat disturbance and loss, as well as hydrological disruption and the risk of erosion. The Guidelines were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Acts, and planning authorities are obliged to have regard to such guidelines in the performance of their planning functions.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has responsibility for the enforcement of the Wildlife Acts, under which Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) receive protection. The wind farm development in question at Corry Mountain Bog was undertaken on foot of planning permission secured prior to the designation of the area as an NHA. Designation of a site as an NHA does not nullify planning permission already given. My Department has engaged in consultations with the developers, ESBI, as well as with Roscommon County Council, in relation to protecting natural habitats at this NHA site.
My Department has recently reviewed the current situation and has concluded that some upland habitats, which may host Red Grouse among other species, have been damaged. My Department is now arranging to have a survey carried out to assess the extent of the damage and the feasibility of restoration. It is hoped that this survey — and any works which may be needed — will be carried out with the co-operation of ESBI.
