Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When will the new guidelines on wind turbines be published? There have been draft guidelines since 2019 and nothing has moved since then. There are many communities like mine in County Offaly, where there is a rich heritage bog, Leamonaghan bog, which is rich in monastic heritage and has links to Clonmacnoise. There is a proposal to put a wind farm there which is absolutely ludicrous and against the wishes of many members of the community. Communities feel disillusioned, frustrated and angered that there are no protections and their rights are not being upheld. The guidelines need to be published urgently. People need rights. Legally binding rights and protections are needed for communities like Leamonaghan, which, may I add, is a bog rich in habitats. If a wind farm went into that area, it would lead to the destruction of the habitats, flora and fauna and the destruction of our monastic heritage in that area.

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