Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2014
523. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the guidelines for wind farm developments will be in place; if they will have statutory enforceable set back distances for wind turbines. [45998/14]
View answerIn December 2013, my Department published proposed draft revisions to the noise, setbacks and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed:
- The setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments,
- A mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations, and
- The complete elimination of shadow flicker between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.
A public consultation process was initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the Guidelines, which ran until 21 February 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this period. My priority is focused on finalising the revisions to the 2006 Guidelines, including consideration of the issue of setbacks, and I intend to conclude that process as a matter of urgency, taking into account the large number of public submissions received.
The current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines were issued to planning authorities under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), as will be the revisions to those Guidelines. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to those statutory guidelines in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.
