Michael Collins
Question:268. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when planning regulations on solar farms will be put in place. [31783/16]
View answerTuesday, 25 October 2016
Questions (268)
Written answers
There are no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar farms and I have no proposals to bring forward such guidelines at the present time.
However, the matter will be kept under review, in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in the context of the Government's White Paper on Energy Policy, entitled Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future, which was published in December 2015, and the development of a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, which I understand will be subject to public consultation prior to adoption in 2017.
Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, each planning authority's development plan must set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned. Section 10 of the Act requires a development plan to include, inter alia, objectives for the provision or facilitation of the provision of infrastructure, including energy facilities and many local authorities have developed renewable energy strategies for their areas in this context.