Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the performance of local authorities subject to instructions issued by his Department in carrying out landscape character studies in order to create zones amenable to wind energy; the progress which has been made to date in 2005 locating suitable sites; and the additional steps taken in order to make the said sites operational. [34993/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Draft guidelines to planning authorities on wind energy development, to replace the existing 1996 guidelines, have been the subject of lengthy consultations which commenced in August 2004. My Department has been engaged in giving detailed consideration to the submissions received and I intend to publish the final guidelines in the coming weeks.

The new guidelines will recommend that the key areas within the planning authority's functional area where there is significant wind energy potential should be identified on development plan maps. Under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála must have regard to the guidelines in the performance of their functions. I intend to keep the implementation of the guidelines by planning authorities under review following publication.