Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter.

The development of renewables, including wind energy, is at the heart of this Government's energy policy. The availability of indigenous, sustainable power is a valuable national asset and is vital for achieving energy security, emissions reductions and economic renewal through job creation. The construction of wind farms is subject to the planning code in the same manner as other developments. Local authority development plans are required to achieve a balance in harnessing the wind energy resources of the planning authority's area in a manner that is consistent with proper planning and sustainable development. Planning authorities must have regard to my Department's wind energy development guidelines, which were published in June 2006. They provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan and development management processes. The guidelines are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and the treatment of planning applications for such developments.

My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and other stakeholders, is now undertaking a targeted review of the wind energy guidelines 2006 focusing on noise, proximity and shadow flicker. As part of this process, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has commissioned a study to examine the significance of noise related to onshore wind farms.

I wish to clarify that it is not the Government's intention to develop a new legislative framework to govern wind farm developments. The existing wind energy guidelines have served us well and what is intended is a targeted review of aforementioned issues in order to update the guidelines. In this context and given the existing guidelines, it is not necessary nor is it proposed to suspend the granting of planning permissions for wind farm developments. The indicative timetable for the publication of the draft guidelines is quarter 4 of 2013. The draft guidelines will, like all other new or revised guidelines, go out for extensive public consultation for a period of six weeks to two months, to allow for publication of the final guidelines in 2014. Once the consultation period is closed, the submissions received on the draft guidelines will be considered and taken into account in the final form of the guidelines.

Given that many people are raising the issue of large companies exporting wind energy, etc., I wish to clarify that there are two types of wind projects currently being progressed - those for contribution to our domestic targets and those for export to the United Kingdom. The proposed export projects must await the completion of an intergovernmental agreement with the United Kingdom, the putting in place of an overall policy and planning framework underpinned by a strategic environmental assessment, SEA, to ensure only appropriate development takes place, and the obtaining of planning permission informed by this policy framework before they can progress. The framework will be prepared over the coming year and will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders including local authorities, potential project developers and local communities to be consulted and have an input into the national policy for wind export.

It is clear from what I have said that there is a long process involved in the export projects and three hooks have to be jumped before getting into the process. I hope that is of some comfort to the Senator.