Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he will place new wind energy guidelines placed on a statutory footing. [19852/18]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the Government intends to bring forward new wind energy guidelines and when these will be placed on a statutory footing.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 wind energy development guidelines. As part of the overall review, a strategic environmental assessment, SEA, is being undertaken on the revised guidelines before they come into effect. This is in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2001/24/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, otherwise known as the SEA directive.

SEA is a process by means of which environmental considerations are required to be fully integrated into the preparation of plans and programmes which act as frameworks for development consent, prior to their final adoption, with public consultation as part of that process. Following a tendering process, my Department appointed SEA experts in December 2017 to assist in this regard. It is expected that a public consultation on the revised draft guidelines, together with the comprehensive environmental report, will be commenced by the end of the second quarter of this year, with the aim of issuing the finalised guidelines, following detailed analysis and consideration of the submissions and views received during the consultation phase, in late 2018.

When finalised, the revised guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts. In the meantime, the current 2006 wind energy development guidelines remain in force. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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It does not really clarify the issue. I am quite aware that we are still working under the 2006 wind energy guidelines. The problem is that people throughout this country are living in fear. New guidelines were promised as far back as 2011. In fact, it is safe to say that this is one of the issues I have raised most frequently in the Dáil since being elected. The previous Government signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK Government concerning the export of wind energy in 2012. Wind turbines of heights of 160 m or 170 m were to be erected in the midlands. That did not proceed, but it highlighted the need to change the 2006 wind energy guidelines, particularly as these were published at a time when turbines were 40 m or 50 m high.

The previous Government, including the then Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and former Deputy, Alex White, and the then Minister for the Environment, Community and local Government, Deputy , could not agree on new wind energy guidelines. Two years have passed, there is a different Government in place but we still have nothing concrete. Every time I raise this issue, whether by way of parliamentary question or on the Order of Business, I am informed that the new guidelines are said to be imminent and that the Government is working through the consultation period and examining submissions. We are still no further along, however. If an application was submitted in the morning, it would be judged on the basis of the 2006 guidelines.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Like the Deputy, I am well aware of people's fears and concerns. The whole reason this Government is bringing forward new guidelines and a preferred option, which has to go through the SEA process, is to bring a better balance to the guidelines and assure people that their concerns are being dealt with. We are not just talking about it; this Government is doing it. The process, as I have said, has to include carrying out the SEA. As part of that, the experts were employed in December 2017. Their work will be finished quite soon. It will then go through a public consultation period, and we will be able to complete all of this near the end of 2018. We will have completed the initial stage at the end of this quarter, which is in about two months. This will address the concerns around noise, visual amenity, shadow flicker, consultation obligations, community involvement, community dividend and grid connections. All the concerns of which I, as a Minister of State and a Deputy, am aware and which were brought to us by various stakeholder groups are being dealt with in those preferred guidelines. The guidelines address the issues. They are being dealt with. It is best for those communities that we follow the process we are meant to follow under law. If we do not do that, the guidelines will not be effective.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I agree that wind energy will and must form part of our renewable energy framework. However, this has to be done in a proper and appropriate manner and local concerns must be addressed. The reason we are where we are now is that the previous Government, of which the Minister of State was a member and in which the Labour Party was involved, did not publish the guidelines. Having gone through the consultation process and received in excess of six submissions, the then Government could not reach agreement and that delayed publication further.

We are two years on and we are still awaiting new guidelines. What the Government has failed to address is the fact that any application submitted now is adjudicated under the 2006 guidelines, which are out of date. We need new guidelines in place as a matter of urgency which take account of the size and magnitude of proposals. A goodwill gesture would be to put in place a moratorium on future planning applications until such time as we have new guidelines on a statutory footing.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The preferred draft guidelines go a long way towards addressing community concerns, but they are a draft and must go through the SEA process. That is now taking place and I cannot move it any more quickly. It is an important process. If we want new guidelines, that is the process they have to go through. At the end of quarter 2, we will have draft guidelines and at that stage anyone making an application for a wind farm will probably reflect them in any proposal. The Deputy is correct, however, that until they become part of planning law, applications will be judged according to the old guidelines. The new guidelines will achieve what the Deputy and most other Members want, which is a balance wherein community concerns are dealt with. While it has taken time for the two Departments to agree on guidelines on behalf of the people on foot of the responsibility of Government to balance the issues involved, the draft guidelines are a step in the right direction and will solve the problem when published. It is important to go through the process, however, or the guidelines will not stand up.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As there are only three minutes left, I ask Deputy Boyd Barrett to forfeit his initial 40 seconds to allow the Minister to reply immediately. I will then allow Deputy Boyd Barrett a supplementary question.