Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this discussion.  I come from County Carlow, a part of the country which has not been mentioned thus far in the debate, but the issue of wind turbines has become a hot topic in the county in recent times because of an ongoing planning application for 21 turbines in the Old Leighlin area.

  While I welcome any debate on energy supply, we should have had this debate earlier.  We should try to reach our target of generating 16% of our energy supplies from renewable sources by 2020. However, certain companies appear to be taking a heavy handed approach in advance of the new regulations.  The Minister of State has outlined a number of positive measures in that regard.  In respect of the aforementioned project in County Carlow, the company concerned is attempting to start work prior to the introduction of the new planning guidelines because the current guidelines allow it to proceed in the absence of consulting extensively with affected communities.  In doing this, the company is splitting communities.  Old Leighlin is a small and tight knit community but people are taking to opposing sides of the fence on this project.  If the guidelines were already in place this issue would not have arisen.  The new regulations should treat projects consistently.  A methodology should be developed to replace the current process, which can be unfair.  It is essential that communities are brought along with projects if we are to reach our targets and harness the great natural resource of wind energy.  I am disappointed that certain parties are using this issue for political gain in advance of the local and European elections.  That is unnecessary because the issue affects every party and none.  Issues arising should be dealt with in a fair and honest manner.  Companies need to be brought on side so that everybody is treated fairly.

  I ask the Minister of State to review the current system and put on hold all proposed planning applications until the new guidelines are in place.  The new guidelines are welcome but there is some way to go on them.  It is encouraging that a number of suggestions have been made on improving them but an issue that has been missed thus far is devaluation of adjoining properties.  Owners of land on which turbines are constructed will be compensated but their neighbours may get nothing even though their properties are devalued.  That issue needs to be addressed in a forthright manner.  It is important that everybody is treated fairly and equitably.

  It is also important that the new guidelines are implemented at the earliest opportunity.  The consultation process has been reasonably good but we need to up the ante because the 7,500 submissions that have already been received give an indication of the extent of the public's concerns.  I welcome that the Minister of State has expressed her willingness to take on board all the views that are expressed so that we can have a fair and equitable process.

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