Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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132. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which his Department's review of the wind energy guidelines 2006, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in respect of noise, proximity and shadow flicker, is now complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19890/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I commenced a public consultation in December 2013 on proposed “draft” revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Guidelines focussing specifically on the issues of noise, setbacks and shadow flicker. These draft revisions propose:

- The setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments; - A mandatory minimum setback of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling, for amenity considerations; and

- The complete elimination of shadow flicker.

My Department received some 7,500 submissions from organisations and members of the public during the public consultation period and the submissions – which are currently being considered - will be an important input into the final version of the guidelines, which will be issued to planning authorities. It is intended that the revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised during Quarter 3 2014.