Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the regulations governing telephone masts in urban areas; the rules with which companies must comply when installing mobile telephone masts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6378/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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In general, planning permission must be obtained for the erection of an antenna support structure or mast. Under Article 6 and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, certain classes of development carried out by a statutory undertaker authorised to provide a telecommunications service are, subject to specified conditions, exempted development for the purposes of the Planning Acts. These include:

the attachment of additional antennae to an existing antenna support structure;

the erection of an antenna support structure in place of an existing antenna support structure, and

the attachment of antennae to certain existing structures, such as lamp posts, flag poles, CCTV poles, electricity pylons and certain public or commercial buildings (other than educational facilities, childcare facilities or hospitals).

The above exemptions are conditional on, among other things, the field strength of the non-ionising radiation emissions from the site not exceeding the limits specified by the Commission for Communications Regulation. In addition, in the case of the exemption for the attachment of antennae to certain existing structures, there is a requirement on the statutory undertaker to notify the planning authority, in writing, of the proposed location of any such structure at least 4 weeks before the attachment of the antennae.