Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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1036. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government under what wind guidelines will a planning application (details supplied) be adjudicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21466/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setbacks and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed:

- 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 between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.

A public consultation process was initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the Guidelines, which ran until February 21 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this public consultation process. It is intended that the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised as soon as possible. In this regard, account has to be taken of the extensive response to the public consultation in framing the final guidelines. Further work is also advancing to develop technical appendices to assist planning authorities with the practical application of the noise measurement aspects of the Wind Guidelines.

The revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006, when finalised, will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.

In the interim, the 2006 Guidelines will continue to apply to existing planning applications which are with either the local planning authorities or with An Bord Pleanála for determination. The issue of the application of the proposed revisions to the Guidelines to existing planning applications is being examined and will be finalised in the context of the new Guidelines.