Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the possible planning problems as a result of the habitats directive; his further views on reforms of planning legislation or process to facilitate new large renewable energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25149/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Government has set an ambitious target of 40% of Ireland's energy to be supplied from renewable sources by 2020. The planning system will support the achievement of this target through, for example:

· the introduction of a streamlined, single stage consent process under the 2006 Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act for certain classes of strategic infrastructure development including renewable energy installations such as large scale wind farms and hydroelectric energy production;

· the provision of policy guidance to planning authorities on wind energy development published in 2006;

· the introduction of exempted development regulations in 2007 and 2008 for certain renewable energy technologies in the residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural sectors.

A number of changes to the definition of infrastructure covered by the strategic infrastructure process will be brought forward on Committee Stage of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, which was published on 3 June. It is also my intention to modernise the consent process for strategic infrastructure development on the State Foreshore.

In assessing an application for development, each planning authority and An Bord Pleanála is required to implement national law and EU directives concerning the protection of habitats and species.