Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 604: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to review the guidelines for local authorities in respect of telecommunications antennae and support structures to ensure at the very least the protection of young children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20381/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In July 1996 my Department issued Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures. Their purpose was to assist planning authorities, An Bord Pleanála, operators of mobile telecommunications services and the general public by providing guidance on dealing with telecommunications masts and base stations within the planning system.

The Guidelines advise that "in the vicinity of larger towns and city suburbs operators should endeavour to locate in industrial areas or in industrially zoned land". They advise that "only as a last resort should free-standing masts be located within or in the immediate surrounds of smaller towns or villages" and also that "only as a last resort should free standing masts be located in a residential area or beside schools".

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Report on Non-ionising radiation from mobile phone handsets and masts, in 2005 recommended inter alia, that planning guidelines and planning exemptions be examined with a view to ensuring that no 'electromagnetic emissions' or 'radio frequency emissions' emitting equipment be permitted to be sited near health centres, schools or other sensitive sites such as playgrounds or pitches etc.

On receipt of the report of the Joint Committee, the Government, in September 2005, approved the establishment of an inter-departmental advisory committee and an expert group, working to the committee, on the health effects of electromagnetic fields. My Department is represented on the committee. It is understood that the committee expects to report to the Government before the end of 2006 on the appropriate action to be taken on foot of the recommendations contained in the report. In the interim period it is not proposed to amend the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures.