Wind Energy Guidelines

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2016

Tuesday, 8 November 2016

Questions (171, 173, 174)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

171. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when the new guidelines for the erection of wind turbines will be published. [33638/16]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

173. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the erection of industrial size wind turbines that exceed 150 m in height; and the minimum distance such structures should be erected in proximity to homes. [33714/16]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

174. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the contention that a minimum set-back distance of 500 m for industrial size wind turbines from habited homes is wholly inadequate considering issues associated with noise pollution and light flick emanating from such massive structures. [33715/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 171, 173 and 174 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 Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government is committed to finalising the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines within the first six months of coming into office. The revisions to the Guidelines will be informed by the public consultation process and by best international practice. My Department is continuing to advance work on the Guidelines, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in order to bring the matter to a conclusion as early as possible.

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.