Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As I indicated during the discussions on the Private Members' Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2014, the Government did not oppose the Bill on Second Stage on the basis that some of the issues raised in the Bill are already under consideration. However, the Government will need to consider the outcome of the consultation processes on the revision to the 2006 wind energy development guidelines and the renewable energy policy and development framework as this Bill progresses, and it is important that the outcome of these processes is not pre-empted.

Some 7,500 submissions have been received in response to the public consultation I commenced in December of 2013 on proposed revisions to the existing 2006 wind energy development guidelines focusing specifically on the issues of noise, setbacks and shadow flicker. These draft revisions propose 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 m between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations; and the complete elimination of shadow flicker.

In regard to section 3 of the Bill, which requires the location of proposed wind turbines to be identified in county development plans, I can confirm that this matter is already addressed in the existing wind energy development guidelines, which include a recommendation that development plan maps identify the key areas within the planning authority's functional area where there is significant wind energy potential and where, subject to certain criteria, such development would be acceptable in principle. In addition, many local authorities have produced local renewable energy strategies, which address the location of wind turbines in considerable detail.

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