Mr. Mark Griffin:

The Deputy is correct that if the setback distance is extended, one starts to reduce substantially the level of renewable electricity that can be provided by way of wind energy. If the setback distance is moved by 100 m, that could reduce the capacity of the country to accommodate onshore wind development by 1,000 MW. We cannot reinvent the way the country was designed. Part of the problem is down to the fact that we have a dispersed settlement of population and it is difficult to find locations around the country where there is not a house within 500 or 600 m of a proposed wind energy development. The Civil Service has always been good at rationalising competing objectives and coming up with solutions that will broadly work for most of the interested parties. We have been in discussion with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government for some time about a range of different methodologies, including setback distance, tip height and land types, to consider the impact of introducing setback distances based on all those factors. We have found it difficult so far to settle on a set of parameters or circumstances that will work and provide the certainty communities want and deal with the concerns they have while, at the same time, allowing us to meet our 16% renewable energy capacity. It is not beyond our wit to come up with a solution in the coming months that will allow some of this to be addressed but it is, as both Ministers have described it when they have dealt with it in the Dáil, a complex issue, which is full of emotion for people.

It is also an issue that causes concern to the investment community. Wind energy developers are investing very significant amounts of money in projects across the State, which provide valuable jobs in construction. I visited the Galway Wind Park a month ago, which is just outside the city. It will generate upwards of 100 MW of electricity and it is providing significant employment locally. I will not use the term "vested" because it has a certain connotation, but there are very many number of competing interests and concerns in this space that have to be listened to and worked through in a sensible way by the Departments, Ministers and, ultimately, the Government in coming to a decision in this area and we are not there yet.