Wind farm development in Ireland is subject to the Planning Acts, including the requirements for public consultation. In order to ensure that Ireland continues to meet its renewable energy targets, while at the same time ensuring that wind energy does not have negative impacts on local communities, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, in conjunction with my own Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, is undertaking a targeted review of certain aspects of the existing Wind Energy Planning Guidelines examining the manner in which the Guidelines address key issues such as noise (including separation distance) and shadow flicker. It is expected that revised guidelines will be published for consultation in quarter 1 2014 with a view to the finalisation of the new guidelines by mid-2014. This will apply to all wind farm development in Ireland.
Ireland's ability to meet its 2020 targets provides d an opportunity to enter into co-operation mechanisms with other EU Member States to contribute to their targets in return for economic benefit. In this context, I announced in July that I am putting in place a clear national planning policy context for renewable energy export which will guide An Bord Pleanála when considering any proposals of a significant scale for wind energy export. Any proposed large-scale wind farms intending to export must await the putting in place of this Renewable Energy Export Policy and Development framework which will be underpinned by a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA). The framework will be prepared over the coming year and will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders including local authorities, potential project developers and local communities to be consulted and have an input into the national policy for wind export. The process will provide an opportunity to integrate the relevant EU Directive requirements (i.e. the SEA and the AA) in the context of developing the new national framework. The initial phase of public and stakeholder consultation regarding the framework will begin in the next few weeks.
The planning process will take account of any visual disamenity, including any potential impact on areas of public and tourist amenity and will account for aspects such as shadow flicker and noise which would address a number of the areas raised by the Deputy.
