Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2015
274. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of Coillte Teoranta being issued last week with an urgent enforcement notice by Roscommon County Council requiring it to vacate within 24 hours a wind farm construction site on Sliabh Bán, County Roscommon, if he will direct the company to urgently review its compliance with planning regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7834/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as construction works on wind farm sites , are the responsibility of the company. The matter outlined in the question was, however, raised with Coillte and the company advised that on the 26th January Coillte commenced minor enabling works on Sliabh Bawn, as a precursor to the construction of the Sliabh Bawn wind farm project, which is scheduled to commence in late Spring. These works were commenced on the basis of Coillte’s understanding that a Commencement Notice under the Planning Regulations was not required, given that the works were minor in nature and did not constitute the commencement of the main development.
When contacted by Roscommon County Council on the 10th February, on foot of concerns expressed to them that the minor enabling works did in fact constitute commencement of the main project, Coillte offered to cease works as soon as it was verbally informed of the Council’s concerns and the site had been vacated by Coillte by the time the Enforcement Notice was formally received on the 11th February.
I am further advised by the company that prior to the commencement of projects of the scale of Sliabh Bawn wind farm, it is not uncommon to carry out some minor preparatory enabling works in advance, which are not normally considered commencement of the main development. The main development works on Sliabh Bawn wind farm are not scheduled to commence until late Spring.
Works will remain suspended until Coillte has issued the formal Commencement Notice commensurate with the development of the main works, in full compliance with the Planning Regulations.
