Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 September 2018
9. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the detail of his Department's engagement with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment concerning the introduction of planning guidelines for solar energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39088/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI ask the Minister to provide details of his Department's engagement with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment concerning the introduction of planning guidelines for solar energy projects.
As is the case with the large majority of development types, there are currently no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar farms. Proposals for individual solar farm developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in the same manner as other proposed developments, with planning applications made to the relevant local planning authority and a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála. Within the wider national and local planning context, planning authorities must make decisions based on the specific merits or otherwise of individual planning applications.
While I am satisfied that the planning code is sufficiently robust to facilitate the assessment of individual planning permission applications for solar farm developments, the matter is being kept under review, in consultation with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, who leads on renewable energy policy. Our two Departments are exploring the potential for enhancing national planning guidance on solar energy, taking account of solar energy projects being assessed by planning authorities and the scope for future development of the sector in the context of the ongoing development of renewable energy policy. On foot of this ongoing engagement between the two Departments, where the need for specific planning guidance for solar farms is identified, my Department will develop such guidance as appropriate but that need has not been identified as it stands.
The Minister of State's last statement is absolutely bizarre. The chairman of An Bord Pleanála has sought solar energy planning guidelines and has argued that they are needed. The Minister of State has said that they are not needed but he should talk to the chairman of An Bord Pleanála. I also have an issue with the language being used by the Minister of State and his references to "solar farms". He is using the language of the large, commercial energy sector but these are not farms. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has said that they are not farms because their owners are not entitled to claim under the basic payment scheme. The Revenue Commissioners have said that they are not farms because no farming takes place on them. Indeed, owners lose their agricultural relief if they set their farms over to solar energy projects.
The Minister of State needs to change his language. He also needs to look into this more carefully because effectively it is the Wild West out there in terms of these solar energy projects. There are no guidelines. Planners are crying out for guidelines, as are the rural communities that are being undermined by these solar energy projects. Solar energy is crucial if this country is to meet its renewable energy targets but we need proper guidelines to protect our rural communities.
Solar farms have been called for over many years. We can certainly review the terminology if that is what the Deputy wants but it is not the case that thousands of planning applications have been granted or applied for. There is a good deal of speculation about that and, as such, this area is speculation-led. The policy in this area is put in place in conjunction with the two Departments, and it is something we carefully monitor. There is not a great demand for guidelines on this issue. We will certainly give guidance to planning authorities but our planning department works with planners from every local authority on a daily basis and consults with them on these issues.
An Bord Pleanála is separate and independent from our Department. When we decide, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, that there is a need for planning guidelines in this area we will certainly do that, but we do not believe that need has been proven yet. These decisions are still best made locally. That is what local planners do: they make the best decision on these individual site applications as they come forward, as they do with many large-scale developments. Local council members set the planning and development guidelines in their own areas, in conjunction with national policy, and that works quite well in the majority of cases.
Local planners, An Bord Pleanála and rural communities are calling for these guidelines. How did the Minister determine that there is no need for these guidelines? Who in his Department is saying they are not required? This will have a real impact in local communities once these projects are constructed. Effectively, they are industrial projects. They take grade A arable farmland out of use. Where is the joined-up thinking in terms of our food security needs? Grade A, top-class land should not be allowed to be converted into solar projects. That land needs to be kept for its proper use in terms of farming.
In terms of speculation, in my county of Wexford, applications have been made for 400-acre farms to be turned into solar projects. There is massive controversy in the United Kingdom over huge solar projects on 200-acre farms. We are turning 400 acres of top class lands across Wexford into these solar projects. There is a desperate need for guidelines. It is probably too late for Wexford, considering the sheer volume of applications that have been submitted, but this will spread to other counties and the Minister of State needs to provide guidelines for these projects.
Under the Act, each planning authority, city or county development plan must set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned. That is what local councils would do. Section 10 of the Act requires a development plan to include, inter alia, objectives for the provision or facilitation of the provision of infrastructure, including energy facilities. Many local authorities have developed renewable strategies for their areas in this context.
As with many development types for which there are no specific planning guidelines, in making decisions on planning applications for solar farms, planning authorities and the board must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the local development plan; any submissions and observations received; and the relevant ministerial or Government policies, including any relevant guidelines issued by the Department. Planning authorities must then make their own decisions based on the specific merits or otherwise of individual planning applications.
As Ministers with responsibility for planning, our role is to ensure that a development is facilitated in a planned, sustained and considered way. Most of the policies are set by the Department of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, which determines the scale, scope and financial viability of such proposed developments.
There are not as many planning applications coming forward as the Deputy stated. There is speculation and talk about them but there are not many applications coming through yet.
They are going to An Bord Pleanála on appeal. How can the Minister of State say they do not exist?
I did not say they do not exist-----
He said "speculation", whatever that means.
Deputy Joan Collins's Question No. 10 is linked with Deputy Darragh O'Brien's Question No. 12. I call Deputy Darragh O'Brien.
