Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)

The Spire is 121 m high while Liberty Hall, once the tallest building in the country and now the third tallest, is 60 m high. These proposed turbines, as already said, will be twice the height of Liberty Hall. I did not realise how high the proposed turbines at Rockmarshall will be. Can the Minister visualise the impact they will have on the local area, which is highly scenic and a tourist attraction?

While the turbines will be eight miles from my home and so outside the 2 km zone recommended by this Bill, the people in the area have concerns about the noise, health and other implications of these turbines. We must listen to their concerns and protect them. Two private residences will be 502 m from the nearest mast. Up to 120 houses will be within 1,500 m of the said development. My concern is these will be located on a side of mountain forested by Coillte which means it gave its approval for the project. It was not a question of money being paid to a local farmer as was mentioned by Senator Kelly already. The Bill proposes that the turbines planned for this location should be a minimum distance of 2 km from the nearest house. This is unattainable in Rockmarshall unless we shift the residents away from the site.

I support this Bill and believe it is important it applies uniform standards to wind turbines. County councils have different guidelines which vary from county to county. We should establish uniform criteria on building distances and so forth for all local authorities.