Written answers

Tuesday, 3 July 2007

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Alternative Energy Projects

9:00 pm

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 562: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the need for a change in planning procedures in relation to the construction of wind farms to allow residents and other concerned individuals the same right to make submissions as applies with ordinary development. [18574/07]

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 563: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are a number of wind farms here whose planning permission's are soon to expire and that in virtually all cases the reason that these projects have not yet commenced is due to delays in grid connection offers; his proposals to deal with these particular cases; when these proposals will be made known; and if he proposes to immediately alert all planning authorities of such proposals. [18577/07]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 562 and 563 together.

I am aware of concerns regarding sequencing difficulties between expiration of planning permissions and timing of grid connections.

Firstly, I should point out that, as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I am precluded, under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, from exercising any power or control in relation to any individual planning application or appeal with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. Secondly, the granting of grid connections is a matter for the Commissioner for Energy Regulation.

Planning permissions are typically granted for a period of 5 years. I understand that a limited number of applications that received permission in recent years have been affected by the moratorium on grid connections imposed by the Commissioner for Energy Regulation in 2003-2004. Where planning permissions expire, Section 42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that developers may seek an extension of the appropriate period, subject to certain conditions, including a requirement that substantial works have been carried out by the time of expiration. It is a matter for planning authorities as to whether these conditions are met in individual circumstances.

In addition, I would point out that section 41 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 also provides that planning authorities may grant planning permission for a period longer than the normal 5 years. Guidelines on Wind Energy Development, published by my Department in June 2006, explicitly encourage planning authorities to use this provision when considering applications for wind energy development.

In relation to development consent provisions in respect of wind energy development, applications for such development are subject to the same planning procedures as other types of development. Therefore the same requirements in relation to public consultation apply. Essentially, this means that a prospective developer is required to publish notice in a specified newspaper, as well as a site notice, up to two weeks prior to making an application, giving a brief indication as to the nature and extent of the proposed development and advising that submissions may be made to the planning authority. Interested parties then have 5 weeks to make a submission once an application for planning permission is made. As is the case with other classes of development, an applicant for permission, and any person who has made a valid submission or observation on a planning application, may appeal the decision of a planning authority to An Bord Pleanála.

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