Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 July 2016
207. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the revision of the wind energy development guidelines 2006; if the revisions to the guidelines will be informed by a public consultation process and best international practice based on the most recent research; and the timeframe for completion of the revision. [23147/16]
View answer208. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the international practices and recent research on which the revision of the wind energy development guidelines will be based. [23165/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed:
- the setting of a more stringent day and night-time 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 also initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which ran until 21 February 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this public consultation process.
As outlined in the recently published Programme for a Partnership Government, this Government is committed to finalising the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines within 3 to 6 months. The revisions to the Guidelines will be informed by the public consultation process and by best international practice. My Department will continue to advance work on the Guidelines, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
The revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines, when finalised, will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to such guidelines, issued under Section 28, in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.
