Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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141. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will formally finalise the revision to the 2006 wind energy development guidelines; if the revision will be informed by recent developments abroad in terms of enhanced regulations governing the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16553/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance 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 distance 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 also initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the Guidelines, which ran until 21 February 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this public consultation process.

As outlined in the Programme for a Partnership Governmentpublished last week, the Government is committed to finalising the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines within 3 to 6 months. The revisions to the Guidelines will be informed by the public consultation process and best international practice. My Department will continue to advance work on the Guidelines, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

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 are required to have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.