Update: Wind Energy Guidelines, 31st July 2015

             Question No.  717, 776  and  778      
 
 
Chun an Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil:  
To the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government:                
 
 
 
To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the new guidelines in respect of windfarms will become applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter.  

– Bernard J. Durkan.  

 
For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 16th July, 2015.  
 
Ref No: 29668/15  , 30356/15 and 30370/15
 
 

REPLY  

 
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kelly)  

 
 
I propose to take Questions No. 717, 776 and 778 together.  
 
In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setbacks and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed:
 

–  The setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments,
–  A mandatory minimum setback 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 initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the Guidelines, which ran until February 21 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this public consultation process.

It is intended that the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised as soon as possible. In this regard, account has to be taken of the extensive response to the public consultation in framing the final guidelines. Further work is also advancing to develop technical appendices to assist planning authorities with the practical application of the noise measurement aspects of the Wind Guidelines.

The revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006, when finalised, will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. It is a matter for the relevant planning authority to make the appropriate determination in relation to a planning application or appeal, having regard to relevant planning guidelines issued by my Department. However, these guidelines are issued for guidance purposes to assist planning authorities in the performance of their functions. Ultimately, planning authorities €“ be they the local planning authorities or An Bord Pleanála – will make their own decision based on the specific merits or otherwise of individual planning applications.