Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)

I raise the issue of wind turbine regulations and guidelines. Where are they? I am raising this in the House for the past 14 years. We need to utilise wind energy. It is very important that we do that as part of the move towards green energy. However, we do not have up-to-date guidelines, never mind regulations, for large turbines. Every Minister for planning and energy has promised them over the past 14 years. Communities are highlighting this throughout the country. In Laois, large turbines are planned to be erected right across the south of the county. These are massive turbines without up-to-date guidelines or regulations. We need to protect communities when putting in turbines where they are zoned in the county development plan to ensure proper set-back distances and that people are protected from noise and shadow flicker. When are we going to see the wind turbine guidelines? They are long-promised. Draft ones were brought in in 2019 but they never went any further than that.

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