Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The short answer is no, we are not. We obviously take the concerns and the health of people in this country very seriously. I recognise there are people affected. I have met them with the Deputy and with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. I recognise there are people who have concerns with regard to their own community and the impact on their homes. That is why it is very important that we have new wind guidelines that give significant clarity and certainty on this. I am a big believer in renewable energy. We have to be and the Government is. It is the way forward. I appreciate the Deputy says he is supportive of that too. We can go from being a net importer of energy to a net exporter and that would provide our country with huge potential in terms of economic security. There are lots of issues we talk about in this country like the cost of energy. It would be hugely beneficial for our country so I think it is quite an exciting opportunity.

I do take the point that we obviously have to get the planning structures right in terms of how this is developed. People across the country ask me why a particular field is being used for solar, or with regard to a wind turbine, "Hang on a second, is that the right setback distance?" The Deputy is also right in that the general direction of travel here will be to see a lot more offshore. In the part of the country that I live in, we expect to see a very significant development. That is why we are trying to put in place new guidelines. I accept fully, and it is a bit of an understatement, that this process is taking quite a long time. There is a reason for that. The programme for Government recommits to prioritising the publication of new wind energy development guidelines. It specifically says we will have regard to international best practice and standards, so learning from other countries on this as well.

I was in contact with the Minister for housing this morning and I know his Department and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment are working together to look at certain elements of the draft guidelines in relation to new renewable energy targets. It is their intention, following the conclusion of the engagement, to bring the review to Government as quickly as possible. I hope and expect it to be concluded by the end of the year. Certainly, that is what the two Departments told me this morning they are working towards.

There has been very significant engagement on this. There has been a lot of opportunity for input and for public consultation as well. The aim here is to get an appropriate balance between addressing the concerns of local communities by ensuring there is greater earlier community engagement, while also making sure we can tackle the energy and climate emergency we face. The review also needs to take on board, and is taking on board, the changed planning policy context. Since this review started, we have passed the new Planning and Development Act 2024 and we now have a new national planning framework recently approved by the Dáil. Those two documents, the law and the planning framework, will need to be taken into consideration as well. They are working towards preparing draft guidelines. They will put those draft guidelines out for public consultation, so there will be a chance for the Deputy's constituents to feed in then. Let us try to get the process done later this year.

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