Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I am in favour of renewable energy and wind farms but I am also conscious of the needs of local communities. I, therefore, wish to call on the Minister to ensure that local democracy will be involved and that communities will at all times be reassured about and be kept fully informed of developments in this regard. The 2006 wind energy guidelines are obsolete and insufficient, particularly in the context of the recently signed memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom. There must be a cohesive approach involving the Departments of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Environment, Community and Local Government in order to ensure that proper guidelines are put in place. When I refer to proper guidelines, I mean those of a statutory and mandatory nature. It is imperative that my concerns be taken on board and addressed at an early stage.

I understand that there was a recent two-week consultation period in respect of wind energy guidelines. I ask the Minister to examine reopening the consultation process, particularly on foot of the information deficit which exists. Information deficits tend to give rise to, perhaps, unnecessary concerns among communities. A major debate on this matter is commencing in the midlands. I am of the view that this debate must be managed properly. Adequate regulations must be put in place and we must ensure that we bring people and communities along with us. What could be a win-win situation could easily be turned into a loss if we fail to do the latter.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Like the previous speaker, I want wind energy to be harnessed. However, this must be done in a sustainable and proper manner and local communities must be involved. What is happening in Laois and other counties at present flies in the face of this. Four areas in Laois have been designated in the local county development plan and four further areas are open to consideration. In fairness to them, local councillors developed some reasonable proposals in respect of this matter. However, what will happen is that a company will be able to use the strategic infrastructure legislation in order to sweep those proposals to one side.

The key issue is that electricity produced by means of wind energy must be used to supply local customers in the first instance. We do not want huge turbines to be plonked in the middle of Vicarstown, Ballybrittas or wherever and the energy they generate to be reserved exclusively for the British market. I do not have any hang-ups with regard to the export of electricity to Britain. We should do that if we have surplus supplies. However, we currently import 85% of our fuel and much of this is used to generate electricity in this country. We need to ensure that things are done the right way around and in a sustainable way.

Deputy Charles Flanagan referred to guidelines. These are not worth the paper on which they are written, particularly as they state that, in general, noise is unlikely to be a significant problem where the distance to the nearest turbine is more than 500 m. The guidelines are not specific in the context of distances. What we need to do is consider local heritage, the landscape and the impact of noise and of the shadow flicker effect of turbines on people. Companies are buying up location rights from farmers at present in a completely underhanded way. Regulations are required in this regard. All we have in place at present is the strategic infrastructure legislation, which large companies will use to sweep the democratic wishes of local councillors, as expressed in local development plans, and those of local communities to one side. We must try to stop this happening.

I ask that this matter be revisited. In addition, I am of the view that we should seek, on an all-party basis, to have regulations - not guidelines - similar to those which exist in other countries put in place.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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This nation is 89% dependent on imported fossil fuels in order to meet its energy needs. The cost to our economy in this regard is €6 billion per annum. This is despite the fact that we possess undeveloped capacity in the context of indigenous renewable resources which is capable of allowing us to meet our energy needs several times over. If one looks at a map of Ireland, one can see that it is uniquely well situated in the context of being able to generate wind, wave and tidal energy.

The crucial aspect of the matter under discussion is the need for community buy-in, especially in the context of wind turbines. In too many instances, outside companies manufacture and erect turbines in particular areas and, with the exception of the small number of farmers from whom land is rented, the majority of host communities see little or no benefit from such projects. This gives rise to animosity. The planning guidelines are being flouted. Wind turbines erected in County Donegal are situated far closer to occupied homes than the guidelines stipulate. It is clear that regulations are required.

We need to examine the potential benefits for the State, particularly in the context of employment. In that regard, we must consider introducing a national strategy on renewable energy. At present, all we have in place are a number of objectives and certain targets. What is required is a national strategy which sets out in full the Government's plan for the development of wind energy and the use of natural resources in the short, medium and long term.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputies Charles Flanagan, Stanley and Colreavy for raising this extremely important matter.

The Wind Energy Development Guidelines of 2006 provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan process. They are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and in the treatment of the relevant planning applications.

To ensure that Ireland continues to meet its renewable energy targets and, at the same time, that wind energy does not have negative impacts on local communities, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and other stakeholders, is undertaking a targeted review of certain aspects of the Wind Energy Guidelines 2006. This focused review will examine the manner in which the guidelines address key issues of community concern such as noise, proximity and visual amenity, and any other potential impacts as considered appropriate, as well as considering ways of building community support for wind energy development.

The press notice issued on 30 January marks only the initial stage in that review process. In response to Deputy Flanagan, it is essentially a pre-draft consultation intended to inform the preparation of the revised draft guidelines, and I emphasise the word "draft". This early consultation allows for the public and other stakeholders to have an input into the process at the earliest possible stage. The Environmental Protection Agency and Sustainable Energy Ireland will also be consulted.

All statutory planning guidelines issue first in draft form for public consultation over a period of a couple of months. Once the consultation period is closed, the submissions received on the draft guidelines are considered and taken into account in the final form of the guidelines. The draft guidelines, like all other new or revised guidelines, will go out for extensive public consultation for a period of six weeks to two months. The publication of those draft guidelines will not take place until the third or fourth quarter of this year, and the extended public consultation I am describing will then take place.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I very much welcome what the Minister has said. I merely wish to add to my earlier contribution by stressing to him the importance of local consultation at all times. There is cross-party agreement on the benefits of wind energy to this country, and that is of great importance to our economy and our society, but I ask the Minister to confirm that he will ensure a process of consultation that will address the justifiable fears of communities in terms of the impact of the infrastructure on communities and on the landscape.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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While I welcome the statement in the Minister's reply that there will be a review, and we appear to have some time to have an input into that, the problem is that we will end up having guidelines. The difficulty is that, while a county development plan has some standing, as a believer in local democracy I feel it should have a stronger standing, particularly when councillors such as those in Laois set out areas that are designated for wind turbines in proper locations. That should be respected. The problem with guidelines is that they will not have statutory weight; they can be overruled. Large companies will come up with arguments to override them, and when we read headlines such as the one I have to hand from a local Laois newspaper, which states that Laois farmers could reap millions from wind turbines, with the article stating that a person could get up to €25,000 per annum for having one of these giant turbines in his or her field, there will be a stampede for wind turbines. I fear that by the end of the year large parts of the midlands will be dotted with turbines; we will have the turbines first and then the planning applications. I wish to highlight that in areas of counties Laois and Offaly, as well as others, there is an urgent need to deal with this issue. We cannot lock the stable door after the horse has bolted. We must take action on it now. It is urgent, and it is important that we put proper guidelines in place such as those proposed by Deputy Penrose and Senator Kelly.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Everybody agrees that wind energy is a good thing, but the expected benefits from renewable energy, including wind energy, will not be achieved unless there is a strategy in which we set out what we intend to achieve and how we intend to achieve it in terms of the financial income to the State, the impact on the host community and the benefits for the host community. We have two ways of doing that. We can set out our stall, work with people and have it done, or we can work against people. I am a strong proponent of bringing people with us and getting them to understand the reason for a development. Otherwise, private companies will come in, short-term jobs will be created, there will be financial gain for a number of landowners, but the wider societal and local community benefits will not accrue unless we set them out and aim to achieve them.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I am glad the Deputies on all sides of the House are saying that wind energy and renewable energy policies are good. The strategy about which Deputy Colreavy spoke was published last July.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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It is not a strategy.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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It is a strategy. It is part of our energy policy-----

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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It is a statement of objectives.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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-----published by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, who is sitting beside me.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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A statement of objectives is not a strategy.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I am entitled to ask him when it was published, and he told me it was published last July.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Well, it is mistitled.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Deputy, please allow the Minister to respond.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I ask all Deputies to give an accurate picture of the way the process works and not to campaign based on misinformation. I pointed out in my original response the accurate position regarding draft consultation. If people want to get involved in that consultation in a meaningful and constructive way, I would welcome that, but there is sufficient time during the course of most of this year for that consultation to happen. I have outlined the process accurately, but there is a lot of misinformation surrounding this important matter.

The current system, with detailed statutory guidance for planning authorities on wind energy development, provides for a degree of specificity and uniformity across all planning authorities, while also leaving the final decision in the hands of local decision makers. The community and the general public, therefore, will have many opportunities to engage in this process, with the help of their public representatives.

The introduction of mandatory minimum distances set out in statute, as has been proposed by some, could effectively prohibit a planning authority from considering wind energy development that may otherwise be acceptable or even desirable from a broad energy policy perspective. We have to have a balance.

The final outcome of the review of the guidelines will be binding on the planning authorities. These are statutory guidelines which I, as Minister, will issue under section 28 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2012. This provides that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála must have regard to the guidelines in the performance of their functions and must demonstrate how they have implemented the policies and objectives of the Minister in applying the guidelines in their functional areas. Planning authorities are also required, under section 28, to make copies of the guidelines available for inspection and distribution to members of the public.

I hope I have allayed the concerns of the Deputies. The process is very open, and sufficient time will be given to local communities to have their say.