John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is a divisive issue throughout rural communities. We repeatedly hear from the Government benches and Ministers that a robust planning regime is in place but I am sure the Minister will agree that people have been given reason in the past two decades to doubt the planning process. We are all familiar with the Priory Hall fiasco. There are other such examples throughout the country.

I do not represent vexatious people or those who protest at the drop of a hat but rural families with young children are genuinely concerned about living within 500 m of monstrous wind turbines in clusters of between 30 and 50. I commend the Minister and his Department on initiating a process of revising the guidelines and planning regulations pertaining to wind farms. It was necessary, as the current regulations are not fit for purpose. Nowhere in Europe are there turbines as large as 187 m. They reach as high as the spire at the top of Liberty Hall. We are asking families to live within 500 m of them. This is untenable. The new planning guidelines should include the recommendations made by Senator Kelly's Wind Turbines Bill, under which wind turbines must be located at a sufficient set-back distance from family homes. The issue is causing considerable distress and division among rural communities.