Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the planning regulations as they apply to wind turbines with vertical axis blades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13578/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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The Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2008 deal with the issue of wind turbines with vertical axis blades. The 2001 regulations set out the development thresholds for wind turbines which require an Environmental Impact Assessment. The 2007 regulations provide exemptions from planning permission requirements in respect of certain classes of micro-renewable technologies for domestic use. The exemptions apply to solar panels and other micro-renewable technologies such as wind turbines, heat pumps and biomass, subject to certain conditions in each case.

The 2008 regulations provide for planning exemptions for specified renewable technologies in the industrial, business and agricultural sectors. Wind turbines are included in the classes of micro-renewable technology exemptions applicable to agricultural sites. My Department also issued Wind Energy Development Guidelines in June 2006. These guidelines recommend an approach which seeks to identify, within the development plan process, key areas where wind energy resources are good and are capable of being exploited. Copies of the relevant statutory instruments and Wind Energy Development Guidelines are available on the Department's website, www.environ.ie.