Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 4

Written Answers. - Telephone Masts.

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

440 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of residents regarding the proliferation of phone masts in built-up areas; the regulations relating to this issue; and his proposals to review these regulations. [22655/02]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

464 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the concerns coming from residents' groups regarding the proliferation of phone masts in built up areas; and the safe distance recommended by his Department for these masts to be erected from households. [22660/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 440 and 464 together.

The erection of all telecommunications masts requires planning permission from the relevant planning authority unless specifically exempted under the Planning and Development Act or regulations. In July 1996, my Department issued guidelines for planning authorities on telecom munications antennae and support structures. The purpose of the guidelines was to assist planning authorities, An Bord Pleanála, operators of mobile telecommunications services and the general public by providing guidance on dealing with telecommunications masts and base stations within the planning system. The guidelines now have a specific statutory status under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000. Section 28 provides that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála must have regard to any such guidelines in the performance of their functions.

The guidelines do not specify minimum distances between masts and the structures. They specifically recommend, however, that only as a last resort, and if all alternatives are unavailable or unsuitable, should consideration be given to locating free-standing masts in a residential area or beside schools. A statement on health and safety aspects which the Departments of Health and Children and Public Enterprise, now the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, agreed with my Department, is included as an appendix to the guidelines. Health aspects are dealt with by requiring operators, as part of their planning application, to furnish to the planning authority a statement of compliance with International Radiation Protection Association guidelines.

The main concern relating to health issues of telecommunications masts is whether it is likely that there could be public exposure to non-ionising radiation in excess of those limits specified by the Director of Telecommunications Regulation. Arising from concerns that there should be sufficient monitoring to ensure that radiation levels remain below those limits, my Department has been working with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to develop a new regime of monitoring. This will ensure that all telecommunication antennae adhere to the strict limits for non-ionising radiation emissions. This regime is now being put in place by the Office of the Director of Telecommunication Regulation.