Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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377. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that existing planning laws are adequate to ensure that local communities will not be adversely affected by the location of high-output wind farms, that such developments are sufficiently distant from residential or institutional accommodation, that the danger of shadow noise, shimmer, electromagnetic or other interference can be absolutely sufficiently addressed to the satisfaction of local communities, whether any further provisions are likely to be governed by guidelines, statutory regulations or instruments or otherwise, if strict adherence to environment impact requirements will be observed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44823/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department issued detailed Guidelines to planning authorities in 2006 in relation to the assessment of proposed wind farm developments. These Guidelines offer advice to planning authorities on planning for wind energy through the development plan process and in determining applications for planning permission. The guidelines are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and the treatment of planning applications for such developments. While I am generally satisfied with the operation of these Guidelines, my Department is currently undertaking a targeted review of the Guidelines focusing on noise, proximity and shadow flicker. The indicative timetable for the publication of the draft statutory guidelines is Quarter 4 2013. The draft guidelines will – like all other new or revised guidelines – go out for extensive public consultation for a period of 6 weeks to 2 months, to allow for publication of the final guidelines in 2014. Once the consultation period is closed, the submissions received on the draft guidelines will be considered and taken into account in the final form of the guidelines.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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378. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of locations at which planning permission has been granted for electricity generating wind farms; if he is satisfied that the planning process was sufficiently and adequately observed to assuage the concerns of local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44824/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department does not collate the specific statistical data requested. With regard to whether the planning process was observed in each instance, the enforcement of the conditions attached to a planning permission is a matter for the relevant planning authority and I have no role in that regard. As Minister I am precluded, under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, from involvement in relation to any individual planning application or appeal with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.