Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 577 of 7 March 2006, if his Department is in a position to review the exemption regulations. [33771/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources reported in June 2005 on Non-ionising radiation from mobile phone handsets and masts. The Report made 11 recommendations, including a recommendation 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.

Following this report, an inter-departmental advisory committee and an expert group, working to the committee, has been established to provide advice on the appropriate action to be taken on foot of the report's recommendations. The work of the committee and expert group is in train and I expect it to be finalised by the end of 2006, following which appropriate action will be addressed.

I intend shortly to bring forward proposals to revise the exempted development regulations to ensure that they support the use of renewable energy for domestic users. Revisions to the exempted development regulations, for example to permit the construction of small wind turbines without planning permission, would require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas.