Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the plan to erect an electromagnetic mast in the vicinity of a house (details supplied) in Dublin 6W; his views on whether the erection of a mast at this location will contravene a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources that electromagnetic masts should not be located near health centres, schools or other sensitive sites such as playgrounds, pitches and so on; his plans to bring forward measures, such as those provided for in the Fingal County Development Plan, to give legislative effect to this recommendation by the Joint Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25525/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Following the report in June 2005 of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on non-ionising radiation from mobile phone handsets and masts, the Government, approved the establishment of an inter-departmental advisory committee and an expert group, working to the committee, on the health effects of electromagnetic fields. The committee reported to the Government in March 2007 and the Government published the report of the Expert Group on Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on 22 March 2007 (available on my Department's website (www.environ.ie/en/publications).

The Report examined a wide range of issues in relation to potential health effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF), including those produced by mobile telecommunications, and answers many questions commonly raised in relation to the health effects of electromagnetic fields. It concluded that, so far, no adverse short or long-term health effects have been found from exposure to the radio frequency signals produced by mobile phones and base station transmitters. My Department's advice to those living in close proximity to mobile phone base stations, based on the conclusions of the Expert Group Report, is that there is no scientific basis for, or evidence of, adverse health effects in children or adults as a result of exposure to electromagnetic fields. This applies irrespective of the location of the phone mast.

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.

A decision on a planning application is, of course, a matter for the relevant planning authority or An Bord Pleanála on appeal.

My Department published Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Telecommunications and Support Structures in 1996. The guidelines are intended to facilitate planning authorities, An Bord Pleanála, the licensed providers of mobile telecommunications services and the public by providing guidance on dealing with these developments within the planning system.

The guidelines set out a locational hierarchy in relation to the siting of radio masts and advise that free-standing masts should only be located within or in the immediate surrounds of smaller towns or villages as a last resort. If such a location should become necessary, the masts and antennae should be designed and adapted for the specific location. In the vicinity of larger towns and in city suburbs, operators should endeavour to locate in industrial estates or in industrially zoned land. The guidelines further advise that, only as a last resort, and if all the alternatives are unavailable or unsuitable, should free-standing masts be located in a residential area or beside schools. Under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities are required to have regard to any Ministerial guidelines, in the performance of their functions.