Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Wind Energy Guidelines

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

538. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the draft guidelines for wind energy recommend a noise level much higher than that recommended by the World Health Organisation (details supplied); the steps he will take to ensure the WHO criteria will be fully incorporated into the finalised version of the draft guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29649/14]

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

543. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question Nos 476, 477, 478, 479 and 480 of 17 June 2014 and the assertion therein that the draft reason of the wind energy guidelines takes into account the 2009 WHO findings in relation to night time noise the way this be so, when the WHO identify that the population should not be exposed to night noise levels greater than 40db of L night outside measured on the Larq noise measurement indicator it should be possible to sleep with a bedroom window slightly opened a reduction from outside to noise of 15db; when the noise is compared of a large porportion of low frequency sounds a still lower guideline value is recommended; and when assessing the effects of environmental noise on persons it is relevant to consider the importance of background noise level and the guidelines that to give effect to these four fundamental WHO criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29773/14]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 538 and 543 together.

My Department published draft revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines on 11 December 2013 and commenced a period of public consultation which concluded on 21 February 2014. A stringent absolute outdoor noise limit (day and night) of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments has been proposed in these draft revisions to the Guidelines.

This proposed fixed limit takes into account the World Health Organisation's 2009 Night Noise Guidelines for Europerecommended targets in relation to night time noise, and the 2013 review of international practice on wind noise undertaken by Marshall Day Acoustics. The Marshall Day Acoustics review recommended that on balance, it is considered that absolute noise limits offer the potential to provide comparable or better levels of amenity protection than the combined noise limitsin the existing 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines.

My Department is currently considering the submissions received during the public consultation period. A combined or relative noise limit and the usage of the L A90 noise measurement indicator will be reviewed as part of this process.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.