Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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620. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views that it is appropriate that An Bord Pleanála have allowed a company (details supplied) to overlook the regular planning process, and bypass both Kildare and Meath County Councils, in an attempt to push through the Maighne industrial wind farm project. [15157/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I understand the matter referred to by the Deputy is the decision by An Bord Pleanála, under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, that the proposed windfarm development in question satisfies the condition referred to in section 37A(2) of the Act and that consequently a planning application in respect of the project will be made to An Bord Pleanála and not to the local planning authority. The condition in section 37A(2) is that following consultations under section 37B with a person who proposes to apply for permission for an infrastructure development specified in the Seventh Schedule to the Act, An Bord Pleanála is of the opinion that the proposed development would, if carried out, fall within one or more of the following:

(a) the development would be of strategic economic or social importance to the State or the region in which it would be situate,

(b) the development would contribute substantially to the fulfilment of any of the objectives in the National Spatial Strategy or in any regional spatial and economic strategyin force in respect of the area or areas in which it would be situate,

(c) the development would have a significant effect on the area of more than one planning authority.

Decisions in relation to these provisions are entirely a matter for An Bord Pleanála and I have no function in this matter.