Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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In recent weeks, I have attended a number of different community meetings in my constituency relating to proposed energy projects. These are causing a lot of concern and are very divisive. They are all being led by private investors. To give a few examples, in Athenry, Bord Gáis Energy is proposing to build the Cashla peaker plant 2.5 km from Athenry town. This is an open-cycle gas turbine plant with a capacity of more than 300 MW and a 100 ft high emission stack. In Portumna, a reserve gas-fired generator is awaiting a decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála. This project alone would represent more than 1 GW of generation capacity, with three chimney stacks in excess of 100 ft. These two developments would be among the largest individual generation units on the island. In Monivea and Abbeyknockmoy, the proposed Bellville solar project led by PCRE is planned to cover approximately 1,000 acres within the community across multiple different sites. This is a small, rural community that would be left totally unrecognisable should this development go ahead in its current form. We also have a huge number of wind farms at various stages of planning in my constituency, especially in north Galway. In some cases, these involve turbines of up to 200 m high in close proximity to homes.

We have a significant concentration of developments in east Galway, which is something that needs to be looked at. These are all very large developments in close proximity to residential areas and schools. There is a target of at least 2 GW of new, flexible, gas-fired generation by 2030 in the climate action plan. From the projects I just outlined, the two developments in Athenry and Portumna would provide roughly 1.5 GW, or three quarters, of this target. Two proposed projects within 40 km of each other would contribute three quarters of what is supposed to be a national target.

People have serious questions around safety, health and well-being and the impact on their homes, property value, quality of life and the local landscape and environment. In Monivea, there are particular concerns about the long-term impacts on the community. Will their children be able to build there in the future? What will the future of farming look like in the area, given that prime agricultural land is being taken up? There is no clarity for people on these issues.

When it comes to large-scale developments, we need to consider the impact on the social fabric of communities. Like I said, these projects are very divisive within communities. Neighbours and families are falling out with one another because they may have facilitated land or access.

The role of private developers is also causing a huge amount of frustration. They are landing these massive proposals on top of communities. The public consultation is not sufficient. People are not being made aware of it and it seems to be a box-ticking exercise. Serious allegations have been made of people being misled as to the nature of projects, as well as people being coerced into facilitating access, which is very serious.

That is just a flavour of the issues coming up in the communities I represent. We could talk for a long time in detail about all of the concerns these developments are causing and the frustration with how these private companies are treating communities while they profit massively from them.

The Government is failing communities due to the absence of a plan-led approach with regard to these developments. The wind energy development guidelines are completely out of date. We are told that solar guidelines are starting to be developed, but there is little information other than that forthcoming. There are no specific plans regarding gas plants. Is this something the Government will finally get a handle on? Of course, we need energy, particularly renewable energy, but this is not the correct way to go about it. What response does the Government have to these issues? How will it ensure, as much as possible, that developments are appropriate to communities?

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The development of renewable energy is an important issue. Therefore, it is useful to have the opportunity to update Members of the Dáil on the status of planning guidance with regard to wind and solar energy development. From a planning perspective, the programme for Government contains commitments to prioritise the publication of the wind energy development guidelines and to introduce new planning guidelines for solar energy development.

With regard to the wind energy development guidelines, the review is addressing a number of key aspects of the guidelines, including setback distance, noise, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. The review aims to strike an appropriate balance between addressing the concerns of local communities by ensuring there is greater and earlier community engagement by wind energy developers. While the review of the guidelines has been ongoing for years – it has been going on too long - significant progress has been made towards concluding the review process. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in conjunction with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters, has been working to advance guidance on the noise aspect of the guidelines. This work, which is highly technical in nature, is substantially complete.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will ensure that the final guidelines, once published, are fit for purpose to provide guidance in line with renewable energy and climate targets, while having appropriate regard to the impacts of wind energy development. The evolving policy and technical context, including the Planning and Development Act 2024 and the first revision of the national planning framework, reinforces the need to ensure that the finalised guidelines, once issued, are fit for purpose.

Also included in the programme for Government is a commitment to introduce planning guidelines for solar energy developments. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has begun an initial scoping process to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of these guidelines, including the possible timeframe for publication. Until the finalisation of solar panel development guidelines, it will remain the case that, as with the large majority of development types, there are no specific planning guidelines to deal with solar energy development.

In line with the EU directive requirements, a strategic environmental assessment is being carried out on the draft wind guidelines and will be carried out on any draft solar guidelines. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage intends to undertake a public consultation on any draft guidelines, for either wind or solar, before they are finalised whereby individuals, communities and organisations will have an opportunity to submit observations on the draft guidelines. Finalised guidelines will be prepared following detailed analysis and consideration of the submissions received during the consultation phase.

With regard to biogas or anaerobic digestion, the current planning system provides a sufficiently robust policy and legislative framework to facilitate the proper planning and sustainable development of developments, which may be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the relevant county development plan and Government policy, as applicable. In that context, there are currently no plans at present to introduce statutory planning guidelines for these development types.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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It is unacceptable that the review of wind energy guidelines has taken several years. It is a dereliction of duty from the Government while these developments are causing such unease in our communities. We all recognise that this is something that will never be perfect. There will always be controversial developments, but the Government, at the very minimum, needs to step in to put some kind of plan or framework in place that regulates where these developments should be located so that the impact on communities can be minimised as much as possible.

The wind energy guidelines are from 2006. They are totally out of date and have not kept up with the technological advances that we have had since then. People are suffering as a result. The updated guidelines need to be brought forward as soon as possible. Similar guidelines need to put in place for other types of development.

The bottom line is that people are frustrated that these companies can bring forward applications for large-scale developments without any real consultation, engagement or proper consideration of the impact on those communities.

We should remember that such developments are hugely profitable for these companies as well. They should be held accountable for not treating communities with respect and not having the decency to engage with people regarding their concerns. That drives people mad, and rightly so.

I fully recognise the need for energy security. I am very much in favour of renewable energy, but the way these projects are being handled and carried out is wrong. It is proving divisive and causing much frustration. These companies are making a huge profit out of other people's suffering. We must make sure that, as much as possible, developments are in appropriate locations and at an appropriate scale and are evenly spread across the State. People in my constituency feel very hard done by with the number of developments that are entering planning in the local area. I urge the Government to take on board the concerns of the communities I represent and to bring forward real guidelines, regulations and a plan as soon as possible.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy O’Hara knows that I represent a constituency that is very similar to his. I attended a number of meetings there during the summer. I understand all the concerns and issues he has highlighted because I have heard them in my constituency. I am also advocating on behalf of my constituents. They want to see the new wind energy guidelines published as soon as possible. The delay has been completely unacceptable. I referred to that in my opening statement.

When the guidelines are published, they will be part of what will be considered when planning applications are lodged, but there are many other factors planning authorities consider when they look at planning applications. As Deputy O'Hara knows from his days on the local authority, permitted developments follow the zoning matrix within a county development plan. As local authority councillors prepare county development plans, they have a significant input and say into the zoning contained within a development plan. They have a major role to play. The guidelines are very important but zoning is even more important. That is what I said at the public meetings in my constituency.

I agree with Deputy O'Hara. I am advised that the guidelines are at a very advanced stage and that they will go to public consultation. I am hopeful that we will see them very shortly. That is what Deputy O'Hara and his constituents want to see, and it is what my constituents and I want to see.