Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has proposals for local authorities to bring forward guidelines for solar farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39898/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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There are no specific planning guidelines in respect of solar farms and I have no proposals to bring forward such guidelines at the present time. However, I am keeping this matter under review, together with my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the context of the Government’s forthcoming White Paper on Energy Policy. Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended , each planning authority’s development plan must set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned.

Section 10 of the Act requires a development plan to include, inter alia,objectives for the provision or facilitation of the provision of infrastructure including energy facilities and many local authorities have developed renewable energy strategies for their areas in this context.