Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raised this issue of wind farm guidelines with the Taoiseach on Tuesday afternoon. He replied that he would ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to respond to me. I received a letter from the Minister earlier in which he states public consultation on the draft guidelines will not start until later this year and he hopes to have them finalised and in place by late 2018. Who is holding this process back? He also said that in the meantime, the 2006 wind energy guidelines would remain in force. I support wind energy generation as part of the renewable energy mix but the problem is giant turbines are springing up. The latest 12 for which planning permission has been granted will be erected in Moanvane, Walsh Island, County Offaly, just outside Portarlington. Can the Tánaiste find out who is holding the guidelines back? Five years ago, the former Ministers, Phil Hogan and Pat Rabbitte, repeatedly told me and others in the House that they would be in place "shortly". Six years later, they have still not been implemented.

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