Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 January 2017
127. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the process of revising the wind planning guidelines; when a further announcement is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3533/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra146. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the revised wind planning guidelines in view of the length of time that has elapsed since the process of revision began; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3532/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 146 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 February 2014. The Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this public consultation process.
In light of the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to finalise the Guidelines and on-going policy and legal developments in this area, my Department is continuing to advance work on the Guidelines and related matters in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, in order to bring the various issues to a conclusion as early as possible. I expect to be in a position to make a statement on the matter in the coming weeks, outlining the timelines for implementation of the various elements.
