Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)

The Minister is probably aware of the Bill brought forward by his party colleague and my constituency colleague, Senator John Kelly, to increase the requirement regarding distances between onshore wind turbines and residential properties. Does he consider this proposal a runner and might it have any impact on efforts to reduce oil dependency?

Deputy Pat Rabbitte: Yes. One can only obtain EIB loans for projects which the bank approves and if the State is putting up matching or better finance. We are not even remotely in that space. We should bear in mind that there is no trmp It has obviously come from complaints from people in my general area who are unhappy with the current guidelines for building wind turbines beside people's houses. What does the Minister think of what he proposes, or is he aware of what he proposes?

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