James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the construction of a single wind farm is covered by the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006; if he will quote the relevant section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10118/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 amends the Planning and Development Act 2000 to provide for the introduction of a strategic consent process for specified classes of infrastructure of regional or national importance.

The Seventh Schedule lists particular classes of environmental, energy and transport infrastructure which come within the scope of the Act. This Schedule provides, inter alia, that an installation for the harnessing of wind power for energy production with more than 50 turbines or having a total output greater than 100 megawatts may be strategic development for the purposes of Sections 37A and 37B of the Act. A decision on whether or not a proposed development should be subject to the new consent process is a matter for determination by An Bord Pleanála under the pre-application consultation procedures set out under the Act.