Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
422. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe for the publication of the draft revised wind energy development guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34270/23]
View answer423. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the draft revised wind energy guidelines on the significant work that has been undertaken on the noise elements on the discussions his Department has had with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on new developments in this regard, including consideration of the impact of the revised 2030 target to generate up to 80% of Ireland electricity from renewable sources and the need to ensure that proposals regarding the measurement and assessment of noise from wind turbines are fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34271/23]
View answer424. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the discussions his Department has had with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on new developments on the noise elements, have included any multidisciplinary consultations with health professionals or noise experts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34272/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 422, 423 and 424 together.
My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.
Guidance on the noise aspect, which is highly technical in nature, is currently being finalised by my Department in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters. Both Departments are engaging on proposals regarding the measurement and assessment of noise from wind turbines to ensure they are robust and fit for purpose having regard to, inter alia, the revised 2030 target to generate up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources.
In this connection, DECC has recently appointed noise consultants who have commenced work to inform any amendments to the noise aspect of the Guidelines. My Department has had discussions with DECC and the noise consultants with a view to moving this aspect of the review forward.
My Department, in conjunction with DECC, will make any further changes to the draft Guidelines which are deemed necessary or appropriate in the wake of this work, with a view to bringing the review of the Guidelines to a conclusion. My Department will be in a better position to provide an update on the expected publication date of the revised Guidelines once this process has concluded.
It should be noted that Action EL/23/4 of the Climate Action Plan 2023 Annex of Actions contains a commitment to having new draft Guidelines prepared by the end of Q4 2023, with revised Guidelines to be published in 2024.
When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, or subject to enactment of the Planning and Development Bill 2023, as a National Planning Statement, as appropriate. In the meantime, the current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force.
