Dr. Mary Kelly:

The Deputy has two separate issues. We are aware that there are pre-application consultations on energy projects on the west coast - we do not have that before us at the moment. There are no mandatory distances from schools, hospitals, etc. However, from the proper planning of that kind of infrastructure, we would do our best to ensure those projects are done according to proper planning and sustainable development. That would entail having proper consultations with people and ensuring having the least disamenity if there must be a disamenity to people. We are very conscious of that with energy projects.

There are many energy projects at the moment because of the strengthening of the grid. Everybody from a development and ordinary point of view wants to have the grid strengthened in order to bring industry in and to allow wind energy on to the grid. On the other hand many people do not want wires or pylons near them and a balance needs to be struck. We examine each case very carefully and try to move them as far away from houses as we can. However, there is no mandatory requirement. As the Deputy knows, the population is quite dispersed and it is very difficult to find anywhere with no houses. I assure the Deputy that we try to do our best in that sense.

From what I have seen since I joined the board just over a year ago, we are very careful to look at sequential development and to ensure where we can that retail development is in the town and that a logical sequence is followed. I am not aware of too many out-of-town developments that have been approved recently. In general, the board likes to see retail developments in towns where there is proper public transport and people can get to and fro. Sometimes at oral hearings people are able to come to agreement when the proposer and the objectors talk. That can be one of the advantages of having an oral hearing but sometimes there is no agreement between them. I am not really aware of what the Deputy said about withdrawing objections. We certainly have not seen many of them withdrawn - it is not a trend we have noticed.