Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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50. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the outcome of the wind energy guidelines focused review, the deadline for which closed in February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44803/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department is currently undertaking a targeted review of the Wind Energy Guidelines 2006 focusing on noise, proximity and shadow flicker. The indicative timetable for the publication of the draft revised 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. The public will be notified about the consultation period through media notices and a copy of the draft guidelines will be made available on my Department's website. All interested parties are welcome to make written submissions during this consultation period. 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.

My Department previously invited submissions from the public as part of a pre-consultation process in January 2013 which marked the initial stage in this review process. This was essentially a pre-draft consultation intended to inform the preparation of revised draft guidelines. This previous consultation has allowed for the public and other stakeholders to input into the process at an early stage.