Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The development and operation of a wind farm in Ireland requires planning permission from the relevant planning authority. It also requires an Authorisation to Construct or Reconstruct a Generating Station and a Licence to Generate from the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).

The issue of planning permission is a matter between the developer of a wind farm and the relevant planning authority, subject to the Planning Acts, which include requirements for public consultation. Each planning authority must maintain a detailed register of all planning applications and decisions made under Section 7 of the Planning and Development Act. An Bord Pleanála also maintain a register of cases determined by the Board which is available at .

Applications for Authorisations to Construct or Reconstruct a Generating Station and Licences to Generate are assessed by the CER ahead of the granting or refusing of an application for planning permission. The conditions imposed in the Authorisation and the Licence must be met by the generator, and compliance is monitored by the CER on an ongoing basis. I do not have a role with regard to the permitting or monitoring of individual wind farms.

All applicants seeking support under the REFIT schemes must provide evidence of having valid planning permission for the project seeking support.

Ireland currently has approximately has 2,500MW of renewable electricity generation of which 2,200MW is wind generation. It is estimated that between 3,500MW and 4,000MW of renewable electricity generation will be required to achieve the target of 40% renewable electricity by 2020.

Work is being advanced by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, in conjunction with my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, on the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Guidelines. It is proposed to update the relevant sections of the existing Guidelines as appropriate. There will also be a number of technical appendices developed to assist planning authorities in relation to noise assessment, monitoring and the setting of planning conditions. Draft guidelines were published in December 2013 for public consultation. Submissions were received from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during the public consultation period. Following consideration of the submissions, the revisions to the Guidelines will be finalised and issued to planning authorities under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).

I should also highlight that my Department is preparing a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework, which is to be underpinned by a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment. The proposed Framework will be completed in 2015, and will be a high level strategic policy, which is intended for the guidance of persons seeking development consent primarily in relation to large scale renewable electricity projects, as well as for the guidance of planning authorities, statutory authorities and the public. The next stage of public consultation will commence shortly with the publication of the scoping report.