Written Answers. - Telecommunications Masts.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:
726
Mr. O'Shea
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the new regulations he has introduced regarding exemption from planning permission for telecommunications masts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1268/02]
All new telecommunications masts require planning permission and this remains the case under the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001, which were made on 19 December 2001 and came into force on 21 January 2002.
Class 31 of Part 1, Schedule 2 of these regulations exempts certain types of development carried out by a person licensed to provide telecommunications services in defined circumstances. The types of development exempted in this way include the provision of: underground telecommunications structures; overhead telecommunications structures; telephone kiosks; equipment for transmitting or receiving signals from satellites in space; permanent telecommunications exchange and radio station containers; cabinets forming part of a telecommunications system; transportable radio installations; the attachment of additional antennae to an existing antenna support structure; antennae for high capacity transmission links by way of attachment to existing high capacity antennae support structures; and an antenna support structure in place of an existing antenna support structure.
In relation to exemptions for telecommunications antennae, the main change in the regulations is to exempt the addition of certain antennae to existing structures. Such antennae must match and blend with the structure, or be completely hidden from view. The types of existing structures on which antennae may be erected under the new exemption include: public or commercial buildings, by way of attachment to roofs, facades, chimneys, chimney pots or vent pipes; but not educational facilities, childcare facilities, hospitals or protected structures; telegraph poles, lamp posts, flag poles, and CCTV poles; and electricity pylons.
There are strict conditions and limitations attached to these provisions. These include compliance with radiation emission standards set down by the Director of Telecommunications Regulation and advance notice of at least four weeks to the planning authority. If these conditions and limitations are not complied with, the planning authority can take enforcement action or insist that planning permission be sought.
The regulations also contain, for the first time, the condition that the field strength of the non-ionising radiation emission from all antennae and other apparatus exempted under the regulations must not exceed the limits specified by the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation. My Department is currently working with the Department of Public Enterprise on devising a monitoring system to ensure that the level of non-ionising emissions from any antennae or other apparatus, which are either subject to planning permission or exempted under class 31, comply with the limits set down by the Director of Telecommunications Regulation.
