Wind Energy Guidelines

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2015

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

Questions (560)

Michael Colreavy

Question:

560. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a self-monitoring system in place to detect noise and shadow flicker from wind turbines. [2545/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

Planning authorities must have regard to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which were issued under Sections 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), when making decisions on applications for wind energy developments. Chapter 7 of the Guidelines lists matters that may be appropriately dealt with by the inclusion of conditions on a planning permission for wind energy development. These include noise and shadow flicker.

As is the case with planning conditions attaching to all types of planning permissions, it is the responsibility of the planning applicant to comply with the relevant conditions attaching to a permission. Planning authorities have statutory powers under Part VIII of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) to take enforcement action – including on receipt of complaints from the public - where planning conditions are not being complied with.